While he had returned to a round everywhere, Carlos Alcaraz felt cramps and could not hang on against Novak Djokovic, in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, Friday.
The clash of the titans had so far kept all its promises. Brilliant racket shots, exchanges at an impressive pace, well-inspired duels at the net… And then the cramps of Carlos Alcaraz. The world number 1, who had returned to a round everywhere, Friday, June 9, first called the doctor outside the scheduled time during a change of side and conceded a break for that, before letting slip the third set. The Spaniard then never fully regained his mobility and lost in four sets (6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1).
It was “convinced of being able to beat Novak Djokovic”, according to the words of his trainer, Juan Carlos Ferrero. But after 2:30 of a very high level opposition, Carlos Alcaraz had to resolve to lower the intensity in his game, hit by cramps which suddenly intervened at 1-1 in the third set. The Spaniard then let the heat slip away to better hope to come back in the fourth, after medical treatment. But too physically and probably mentally affected, he did not make the weight in the last set, in which he tried to win a few points with the wrist, when he no longer had his legs.
Before this cruel scenario, which is reminiscent of that of last year’s semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev, the spectators of the Philippe-Chatrier court could believe in a show in five sets. The two players had regaled them, leaving them speechless on several sumptuous points, taking very little safety margin on the lines. More tense than usual, Carlos Alcaraz first gave several points to Novak Djokovic, who on the contrary seemed more relaxed, probably more used to the semi-finals of Grand Slam tournaments, he who had played in them until then. 44, against only one for the young world number 1. With a lot of aggression, the two players martyred the balls for two sets, with shots that would have been winners against any other opponent, but which they managed to relaunch to extend the exchanges.
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True to form, with a mind of steel, Novak Djokovic saved the first five break points he conceded, before cracking on the sixth, in the second set. Facing him, the fiery Alcaraz often made the points and the faults, capable of the best – as with a prodigious racket stroke which perhaps resulted in the point of the tournament at 1-1 in the second set – as of the worst, with a lack of lucidity and a forehand sent down the hall when the court was open, which gave a break point to Djokovic, which the Serb took advantage of while the Spaniard served to win the set.
For the one considered the heir to Rafael Nadal, the quest for a first title at Roland-Garros will wait. “When you get to that level, physical issues are all you don’t want, so I feel sorry for him. But he’s very young, he’s a good person, and I’m sure he’ll win this. tournament this tournament many times”, reacted Novak Djokovic after the meeting, recalling the respect he has for the Spaniard. The Serb will embark on a quest for a 23e title in the Grand Slam tournament on Sunday, and will aim for a third coronation. He will face the Norwegian and finalist a year ago, Casper Ruud (n°4), or the returning German, Alexander Zverev (n°22).