French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic Beats Carlos Alcaraz To Enter His 34th Grand Slam Final

Novak Djokovic used every bit of his experience, relentlessness and fitness to beat a cramping Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 at the French Open on Friday and move one win away from a record 23rd Grand Slam titleThe No. 1-ranked Alcaraz produced one particularly brilliant shot u2014 one that went viral within minutes and could be talked about for years u2014 en route to claiming the second set of what, at the time, was a closely contested and thrilling showdown.But in the end, this highly anticipated matchup was as anti-climatic as can be.Thatu2019s because early in the third set, after nearly 2 1/2 hours of exertion and tension in 85-degree heat at Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcarazu2019s body began to lock uvvp. First, his hand began to cramp. Then his legs. And so, at 1-all, Alcaraz needed to take a break and get treated by a trainer. Because it was not a changeover, Alcaraz was required to forfeit the following game and fell behind 2-1.From there, it was pretty much all over. Djokovic, who is 36, was able to cruise to the finish against Alcaraz, who is 20, making for the widest age gap in a menu2019s Grand Slam semifinal since 1991.Score one for the old guys.It was the 45th Grand Slam semifinal for Djokovic and the second for Alcaraz.u201cI feel for him. I feel sorry. … I hope he can recover very soon,u201d Djokovic said. u201cI told him at the net, he knows how young he is. He has plenty of time ahead of him. Heu2019s going to win this tournament, Iu2019m sure, many, many times.u201dInstead, it is No. 3 Djokovic, who will meet No. 4 Casper Ruud of Norway or No. 22 Alexander Zverev of Germany in Sundayu2019s final.Ruud u2014 a two-time major runner-up last year, including in Paris u2014 and Zverev u2014 the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open u2014 were scheduled to play the second semifinal later Friday. Neither owns a major trophy.
Djokovic is hoping to leave Roland Garros this year with his third French Open title and his 23rd Slam championship overall, which would break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in the history of tennis.Nadal was absent from his favorite tournament this year because of a hip injury.Share your views in the comment