Billed by France’s afternoon newspaper Le Monde as “the match everyone’s waiting for,” the semifinal clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz was worthy of everyone’s attention. Tennis purists called it the de facto final.
Djokovic and Alcaraz put on a show, a tennis feast, in the first two sets. But in a cruel twist of fate, Alcaraz pulled up with a cramp early in the third set and the second episode of this intriguing rivalry had an anticlimatic finish to it. Djokovic cooly advanced 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 in over three hours.
When the dust settled, Djokovic settled the score against the indefatigable Spaniard, who briefly threatened to jeopardize his goal of becoming the all-time men’s record holder of 23 Grand Slams.
A decade ago, Djokovic suffered a chastening five-set loss to Rafael Nadal on this court, in a semifinal for the ages. His semifinal clash against Alcaraz was destined to eclipse it for the sheer drama and excitement. So, how did the majestic Serb pull the rabbit out of the hat again?
Respect 🤝🧡#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/q38zjjqEaG
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023
Clutch play from Djokovic wins him the first set
A look at the pre-match odds and it was Djokovic who walked in as the heavy underdog. But if there was one player who handles the occasion with superior poise and rises to the stakes, it is Djokovic.
The first set was something akin to an arm wrestling contest being watched by retired boxer Mike Tyson in the stands.
Djokovic was the first player to show a hint of nerves at 1-1, 30-30, serving and volleying himself out of a tight hold. But moments later, it was as if the pressure transferred through osmosis to Alcaraz, whose undercooked drop shots gave Djokovic a look at a break point.
During his quarterfinal win over Khachanov, Djokovic admitted that the first two sets were among the worst he’s played, failing to manufacture a single break point. But here, it took him 16 minutes to convert on his first attempt ending an intense rally with a drop shot that he quickly followed up for a clean winner.
Alcaraz, playing on the back foot, showed moments of frustration, shouting vociferously at his box, which was so unlike him. He had chances to get the set on level terms. Djokovic saved all four break points he faced in that set.
Alcaraz had twice the number of winners but also had five more unforced errors to his tally than his opponent. It is not easy to quantify mental strength, but Djokovic wasn’t just winning tactically, but mentally too.
Djokovic blinks as Alcaraz wins a titanic second set
Djokovic had his foot on the accelerator, but could he keep it for long? The early goings in this set suggested so. Alcaraz hit an outrageously sensational winner in the third game of the second set. Moments after chasing a drop shot by Djokovic, he was quick on his feet to chase the return by the Serb, and almost blindfolded, found room to pick the ball at knee height and plant a winner. The crowd was on its feet, the two players smiled, and Djokovic gracious even while winning, applauded that moment of genius.
In Novak voice: NOT TOO BAD 🤯#RolandGarros | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/pHkwxrff4u
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2023
Djokovic won 79% of first-serve points in the first set, but that figure dropped substantially to 57% by the end of the second set. Alcaraz who broke Djokovic for a 5-3 lead, failed to serve out for parity. But a few games later, he broke Djokovic to love to level the set. In that set, Djokovic took an on-court medical timeout to have his right forearm assessed by the trainer.
Alcaraz gives in to cramps as Djokovic restores lead
The clock ticked past two hours at the start of the third set. Alcaraz was growing in confidence and this was reflected in his clean lob winner to hold in the opening game.
Djokovic, who was uncharitably booed when he returned to the court after a bathroom break at the end of the second set, coolly held, aided by Alcaraz who barely moved to hit a return due to cramps. Alcaraz forfeited his next service game in order to receive treatment at the change of ends. The crowd–understandably–was unimpressed. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, Djokovic showed little empathy in between points, and Alcaraz was struggling body-wise. Djokovic broke serve twice in a few minutes to race into a two-sets-to-one lead.
Djokovic wins fourth set and cruises into another Roland-Garros final
At the start of the fourth set, the commentators acknowledged the finely-poised match an hour ago was now very much in Djokovic’s hands. Alcaraz began to tamely net almost every stroke out of his racket and only occasionally found his shots cleaning the court for a winner.
Djokovic’s mastery of the court and his opponent had never been absolute and only dropped one game in the fourth set to complete a four-set win in a subdued Chatrier. With Rafael Nadal absent in his castle, Novak Djokovic delivered a telling reminder he has the keys.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
