Alcaraz crushes Tsitsipas to set up Djokovic clash in French Open
BBC – Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will face Novak Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals after crushing Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up the highly anticipated clash.
Spain’s Alcaraz, 20, won 6-2 6-1 7-6 (7-5) against the Greek fifth seed.
Serbia’s Djokovic survived a quarter-final scare from Karen Khachanov to keep his bid for a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam singles title alive.
Djokovic, 36, was in danger of falling two sets behind against the Russian but prevailed 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-4.
The third seed could become the first man to win all four majors at least three times.
But if he is going to do that he must come through his toughest test yet when he meets US Open champion Alcaraz in the last four on Friday.
“This match is what everyone wants to watch and it will be a good one to play,” said world number one Alcaraz.
“If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Djokovic is one of the best in the world and I’m looking forward to it.”
In the absence of the injured Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz have long been considered joint favourites to take the 14-time champion’s crown – what they have showed so far in this tournament strongly suggests that remains the case.
From the moment the French Open draw was made almost a fortnight ago, eyes were drawn to the potential men’s semi-final that many fans had dreamed of seeing.
The unpredictable nature of sport means things do not always pan out as expected, but the fine form of Alcaraz and Djokovic has ensured a blockbuster semi-final in Paris.
Djokovic, who has won five of the past seven majors he has played, and Alcaraz have been two of the standout players on the men’s tour this season.
However, duels between the pair – either head-to-head or even being present in the biggest tournaments – have been rare.
Alcaraz stylishly set up their first meeting at a major by demolishing Tsitsipas, who reached the Roland Garros final in 2021.
Djokovic had not dropped a set all tournament on the Paris clay but Khachanov provided the test he arguably needed to prepare him for Alcaraz in the last four.
He came into the match having won 29 successive sets in Grand Slams but Khachanov ended that streak in just under an hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Having faced seven break points – saving six of them – in losing the opening set, Djokovic tightened up his service game for the majority of the match thereon.
“I played the perfect tie-break and from that moment onwards I played a couple of levels higher than I did at the beginning,” Djokovic said after three hours and 43 minutes on court.
“It was a big fight, it’s what you expect in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. You are not going to have your victories handed to you and I’m glad to have overcome it today.”