PARIS — It was Carlos Alcaraz, not Novak Djokovic, who conjured up the “How did he do that?!” shot in the French Open semifinals that went viral in minutes and will be talked about for years.
It was Alcaraz, 20, not Djokovic, 36, who had youth on his side, the widest gap between Grand Slam semifinalists since 1991.
It was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, who complained to his coach in the early going on an 85-degree afternoon in Court Philippe Chatrier that the points weren’t long enough to wear down his opponent.
And yet it was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, who succumbed to the heat and the intensity and, by his own admission, the nerves of the occasion.
It was Alcaraz, not Djokovic, whose body broke down.
And so it is the No. 3 seed Djokovic, not the top-seeded Alcaraz, who will play on in Paris with a chance to add to his trophy collection.
Using every bit of his superiority in experience and fitness, Djokovic beat a cramping Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 to reach his 34th major final.
That allowed Djokovic to move closer to a 23rd Grand Slam championship, which would break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the men’s record.
“I can understand the emotions and circumstances that affect you mentally and emotionally. … Maybe for the first time in his career, he was expected to win,” Djokovic said. “It’s a part of the learning curve.”
Score one for the old guys.
Novak Djokovic used his veteran game to fend off Carlos Alcaraz on Friday. AFP via Getty Images“I’ve never felt the tension that I did in that match,” said Alcaraz, who said the stress he sensed because of the stakes, and the daunting foe across the net, caused cramps in “every part of my body.”
“He has been in that situation multiple times,” Alcaraz said. “More than me.”
On Sunday, Djokovic will meet No. 4 Casper Ruud, who eliminated No. 22 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Ruud will be playing in his third final at the past five majors — including in Paris a year ago, when he lost to Nadal — but is still seeking his first such trophy.
Alcaraz offered up a brilliant shot for a point against Djokovic, but cramps derailed his momentum. AFP via Getty Images“I tried to play without too many feelings,” Ruud said, “without too much pressure.”
Nadal was absent from his favorite tournament this year because of a hip injury; he had arthroscopic surgery last week.
That left most people focusing on two men: Djokovic, who has won 10 of the past 19 majors, and Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open in September. Djokovic is one of the dominant figures in the sport’s history; Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open in September, is considered its future.
They sure put on a show for two exhilarating, exhausting sets, with fans breaking into chants of both men’s nicknames: “No-le!” and “Car-li-tos!”
“We went toe-to-toe,” Djokovic said.
He was at his stretching, sliding best, whipping groundstrokes that pushed Alcaraz all over the place. Alcaraz, somehow, chased just about everything down, his speed and instinct as good as there is.
“I told him that he’s got plenty of time, and that I’m sure he’s going to win Roland Garros multiple times in the future,” Djokovic said of their conversation when the match was over. “I have no doubt about it.”
