Alcaraz to play Sinner in US Open final after beating Djokovic | Tennis News

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz took down 24-times main winner Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6(4) 6-2 with medical precision to succeed in the US Open last, prevailing in a extremely anticipated showdown that packed the home at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The match on Friday was billed as the most well liked ticket in New York and lived as much as the hype, with a scoreline that belied its depth, because the 2022 champion Alcaraz soaked in deafening cheers on match level.

Djokovic had received their two most up-to-date conferences, together with within the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this 12 months, however the 38-year-old confirmed put on and tear in opposition to the Spaniard 16 years his junior.

“It’s one thing that I’m engaged on, simply the consistency on the matches, on the tournaments, on the 12 months on the whole,” stated Alcaraz, who received his fifth main title at Roland Garros this 12 months and completed runner-up at Wimbledon.

“Simply not having up-and-downs within the match. Simply the extent that I begin the match, simply needed to maintain that degree actually excessive throughout the entire match.”

Djokovic dropped his serve when he despatched a shot previous the baseline within the opening recreation and was unable to arrange a single break level probability within the first set, which Alcaraz closed out with an unreturnable serve.

Urged on by the celebrity-packed stands, the seventh seed acquired within the combat within the second set, sending over an excellent backhand to transform on a break level within the second recreation.

However Alcaraz had not dropped a set thus far in New York and was not about to begin as he put his foot on the fuel, establishing a break level after surviving a 16-shot rally with one in every of his high quality forehand winners and changing from the baseline.

Down 0-2 within the tiebreak, Djokovic outlasted his opponent in a cheeky alternate on the internet and paused to soak up the roars of the gang, a reminder of the Serb’s perennial attraction twenty years after his Flushing Meadows primary draw debut.

However the Spaniard saved his nerve, closing out the tiebreak with two extra unreturnable serves earlier than Djokovic gifted him a break level with a double fault within the fourth recreation of the third set.

“It’s not simple enjoying in opposition to him, to be sincere,” stated Alcaraz, who hit twice as many winners as his opponent.

“I’m desirous about the legend, what he has achieved in his profession. It’s tough not to consider it. In order that makes going through him even more durable.”

The writing was on the wall for Djokovic as he hit one other double fault on the penultimate level of the match, and he leaned on the web as he congratulated his opponent with a smile after handing over the competition with a large forehand.

“In fact, it’s irritating on the court docket if you end up not in a position to sustain with that degree bodily. However on the similar time, it’s one thing additionally anticipated,” stated Djokovic, who picked up the final of his 4 US Open titles in 2023.

“It comes with time and with age.”

Sinner overcomes spirited Auger-Aliassime problem

Defending champion Jannik Sinner battled previous twenty fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 within the second semifinal to arrange one other blockbuster title conflict with Alcaraz and renew one of many sport’s most compelling rivalries.

Shortly after Alcaraz wove his magic to dismantle Djokovic, the often machine-like Sinner misfired at occasions however prevailed to make sure a 3rd successive main last with the Spaniard.

The Italian world No 1 confronted temporary resistance within the fifth recreation of the competition however dialled up the depth to carry and wrapped up the lopsided opening set when Auger-Aliassime despatched a backhand huge.

Auger-Aliassime settled his nerves in his second New York semifinal, breaking for a 5-3 lead within the subsequent set en path to levelling the match, earlier than going toe-to-toe with Sinner within the third set, just for the momentum to shift once more.

Sinner, who took a medical timeout for an unspecified challenge earlier, discovered his groove to shut out the third set and staved off a robust problem from his reinvigorated Canadian opponent with some clutch serving within the subsequent set to advance.

Sinner will face off in opposition to Alcaraz for the third successive Grand Slam last on Sunday. Sinner captured the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles this season however misplaced to Alcaraz in an epic five-set battle within the French Open last.

“Sunday is a really special occasion and an incredible last once more,” stated Sinner. “I really feel like our rivalry began right here (in 2022) enjoying an incredible match. We’re two totally different gamers now, with totally different confidence too.”