French Open 2023
The unstoppable Spaniard’s blistering form will test the steadfast Serbian, who proved smarter than ever on his way to the semi-finals
Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Madrid last May and still had a lot to prove. The speed with which he rose to the elite had already become one of the defining stories of the season, but Alcaraz still hadn’t faced the ultimate test of going head-to-head with Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
By the end of the week he had crossed both off the list. Alcaraz finished the Madrid Open as the first player to defeat Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back on clay and was eliminated with the title.
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In the 13 months since then, Alcaraz has continued to rise. Last year he won his first Grand Slam at the US Open, the last he played, as he missed the Australian Open through injury. He became the first teenage ATP world number one. He has four Masters 1000 titles.
At the same time as Alcaraz was establishing himself at the top, Djokovic was finding his own form again after falling from the No. 1 rankings largely due to his unvaccinated status clearing his schedule. Djokovic has won the last two Grand Slam tournaments he has competed in and has won seven titles since last May.
Alcaraz and Djokovic were the best in the world against the field they were up against, but in the same period they managed to avoid each other. In their only meeting, last year’s Madrid Open semi-final, Alcaraz prevailed over Djokovic after three hours and 36 minutes and won 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5). This French Open is the second time they participate in the same draw this year.
On Friday they will meet in the French Open semi-finals, a true generational battle and one of the most anticipated matches of recent years.
If form is the only factor, there would be little doubt about the favourite. Alcaraz tore the field apart during the clay court season, winning Barcelona and Madrid. In Paris, the top seed raised the bar even higher. His win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, another top four contender, on Tuesday night was stunning and further proof of just how overwhelming the combined power of his attacking and defensive skills is.
Carlos Alcaraz made it clear that he wanted to face Novak Djokovic after winning his quarterfinals at the French Open. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
“[He] brings a lot of intensity to the pitch. “Reminds me of someone from his country who plays with his left hand,” Djokovic said, smiling. “He undoubtedly deserved his success. He works hard and is already a very complete player and only 20 years old.”
Beyond tennis, one of the key traits behind Alcaraz’s success is that he seeks out the big moments rather than giving up under pressure. After his quarter-final win, he made it clear that he wanted to face Djokovic.
“Ever since the draw was announced, everyone was expecting this game, the semi-final against Novak,” he said. “Me too. I really want to play this match. Since last year I really wanted to play against Novak again.”
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As he contests his 12th French Open semi-final, Djokovic’s preparations have been far less helpful. The third-seeded came here after ending one of their worst clay-court seasons, failing to reach a single semi-final and losing to the likes of Dusan Lajovic and Lorenzo Musetti. He withdrew from Madrid due to his persistent elbow injury.
Despite conceding just one set in Paris, Djokovic was happier with the improvements made than with his level. He’s 36 years old and while he still moves like a breeze, it’s getting harder to maintain his physicality and form with each passing year.
Nonetheless, he has built a legendary career by rising to the occasion and stepping up his game when the moment and opponents called for it.
As he got older, the difference between beating him in your best three sets and outlasting him in five sets became increasingly obvious. A lot more players can win two sets these days, but Djokovic prides himself on how hard it is to win three.
Despite all his strengths, Alcaraz sometimes gets lost, makes overzealous decisions and unforced mistakes. Although his serve has improved significantly this year, he can still be vulnerable and he now faces one of the best returns in the world. Nobody is better suited to testing Alcaraz’ shooting tolerance, decision-making ability and consistency to their limits.
It is fortunate that such a meeting takes place on such an important occasion, but it also reflects their excellence. Just as it is unprecedented in the ATP for a 20-year-old to lead a Grand Slam tournament as top seed and favourite, it is rare for a 36-year-old to be that great.
It’s two players at completely different points in their careers who briefly pass one another, but on Friday they will enter the fray on equal footing.
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