Novak Djokovic advances to French Open final after Carlos Alcaraz struck down by injury in third set of classic clash
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Updated 09/06/2023 at 20:04 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz came into the French Open as the favourite for the title, and his form suggested that was correct. He came up against Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and the pair were shaping up to deliver a classic encounter, only for the young Spaniard to be struck down by an injury in the third set. He attempted to play on but could offer no resistance to the Serbian.
Alcaraz v Djokovic - French Open highlights
The clash of the titans turned out to be a non-event, as Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the French Open after Carlos Alcaraz was struck down by injury.
The pair arrived in the semi-finals to huge acclaim, after both had produced breathtaking tennis at Roland-Garros.
The contest was shaping up to be a classic, as Alcaraz had just taken the second set to level the match when he was hit by a leg problem - cramp or possibly something more sinister.
After forfeiting his serve to receive treatment, Alcaraz was a lame duck at the back of the court.
He attempted to play on, but could offer no resistance as Djokovic secured a 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 victory and is now one win away from a 23rd Grand Slam title.
“I have to say tough luck to Carlos,” Djokovic said. “At this level, the last thing you want is cramp and physical problems at the late stages of a Grand Slam. I feel for him, and I hope he can recover, and come back very soon.
“I told him at the net he knows how young he is; he has plenty of time ahead of him and will win this tournament many times. He’s an unbelievable player, an incredible competitor, and a very nice guy. He deserves all the applause and support.
“It’s tough for him to not know whether to retire or not, but to finish the way he did, congratulations to him for fighting all the way to the end. Great respect for that.“
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'It was very exhausting for two sets' - Djokovic pays credit to Alcaraz
Djokovic opened the match with five first serves to secure a comfortable hold.
The two-time Roland-Garros winner seemed intent on attacking Alcaraz at every opportunity, and it paid off with the first break of the match in the fourth game.
Djokovic worked the break point off the back of a stunning return from what was a good serve, and he converted by winning a brilliant point which included a sublime drop shot and finesse volley.
Alcaraz had spent the first 12 days in Paris with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. The smile was replaced by a scowl as he struggled to work out the Djokovic puzzle.
The young Spaniard's box was on the receiving end of some robust verbal volleys, as the occasion threatened to get the better of him. Alcaraz's mood was not improved as he squandered a host of break points in a 15-minute Djokovic service game in the seventh.
Despite Alcaraz pressing hard, Djokovic closed out the opening set in which he was rewarded for his front-foot approach.
The Alcaraz smile is never far from his face, and it returned in the third game of the second set when he won one of the points of the championship. After being sucked into the net by a fine drop shot, Alcaraz scampered back to retrieve a lob.
Speed is one of Alcaraz’s many talents, and he needed it as he raced back, contorted his body and played a forehand from a strange angle that made perfect contact and arrowed the ball over the net for a winner. The fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier rose to their feet, Djokovic clapped his racket in appreciation and the Spaniard had a smile a mile wide.
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'Beyond belief!' - Alcaraz leaves Djokovic laughing and applauding with 'unreal' winner
Following the dominance of the opening set, Djokovic’s level dropped a shade and after a couple of wild misses in the seventh game of the second set he called for the trainer and received treatment on his right arm.
Alcaraz sensed an opportunity and duly broke in the eighth game and looked set to take control as Djokovic appeared fatigued, but the Serb has dug himself out of big holes during his stellar career and he broke back immediately in the ninth game.
Djokovic came under pressure in the 10th game, with Alcaraz working three set points on the back of a trio of brilliant points. The world No. 3 fended them all off and like a boxer springing off the ropes, he worked break points of his own one game later. Alcaraz may too have been rocking, but he thrilled the crowd by digging in to hold in the 11th game.
The pressure was put back on Djokovic but unlike in the 10th game when he saved three set points, he was unable to resist. Alcaraz ran him up and down the court to work the openings and drew level when the 22-time Grand Slam champion sent a forehand over the baseline.
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Alcaraz takes 'one of the best sets Roland-Garros has ever seen' against Djokovic
Djokovic left the court at the end of the second set and took six minutes to return. If it was an attempt to stem the momentum it did not work, as Alcaraz made a strong start to the third set - sealing a hold in the first game with a delicious lob.
Just as he seemed set to take control, Alcaraz pulled up sharply with what appeared to be cramp at the end of the second game of the third set.
As it was not a changeover, the choice was to play on or call the trainer and forfeit his serve. Seemingly struggling to move, Alcaraz called for treatment and stepped back on court two minutes later a break down.
After initially looking a little baffled about how to approach the match, Djokovic settled back into his work against an opponent who had been sapped of one of his biggest assets.
Alcaraz attempted to play on, but could put up no resistance as Djokovic took four straight games after the medical intervention to wrap up the third set in 30 minutes.
There was a lengthy break after the third set as Alcaraz left the court, and he returned seven minutes later with his movement a little freer. He had a couple of break points at the start of the fourth as Djokovic momentarily forgot the sensible plan of moving an injured opponent around the court, but he held serve and then pressed on with an immediate break of serve.
Alcaraz’s movement improved as the fourth set wore on, but he was in too big a hole to dig himself out of it.
He got a game on the board to avoid the bagel, but Djokovic kept things simple and closed out the match on his own serve - albeit the win was greeted by boos from some of the crowd following some zealous celebrations at times in the fourth set.
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Top 5 shots - Alcaraz and Djokovic produce outrageous tennis in semi-final
Djokovic admitted he was under the pump before Alcaraz’s injury.
“We were both at the physical limit towards the end of the second set; I wasn’t feeling fresh at all,” Djokovic said. “We went toe to toe, it was an even match. At one set all, then this thing happened with his cramp in the second game of the third set, and from then on, it was different.
“I tried to stay focused, present, seeing that he was struggling, but I didn’t want to think too much about what was going on on the other side of the net. Respect for him, and I hope he comes back very quickly.
“It’s not easy to maintain that kind of intensity. The first set and a half I was playing well; had some chances, then he was the better player and deserved to win the second set. I had to play aggressively; taking the ball early because if I didn’t, he was going to be the aggressor.
“He loves to play that kind of style; he’s very dynamic and fast, and has a lot of power and intensity in his shots. I had to match that and do even better. It was exhausting. Incredibly proud to reach another final.”
Looking ahead to the prospect of breaking out of a tie with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slams, Djokovic said: “It’s not over yet, there’s another match to go in two days' time. I’m living a dream right now, and to be in a Roland-Garros final once more.”
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