Paris, June 10 (FN Agency) Novak Djokovic handed out a stunning defeat to Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals to reach a record 34th major singles title here on Friday. The Serb will bid to become the first player to win a 23rd Grand Slam singles title against either Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final. Djokovic would also return to the world No.1 spot if he lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires on the same day. This was Djokovic’s fourth consecutive win over a reigning world No.1 and his first against Alcaraz in two tries, but it was not without drama. Seemingly in control of the momentum, Alcaraz suffered from what appeared to be cramping in his legs at the conclusion of the second game of the third set, and conceded a break of serve while seeking medical attention in his chair. The world No.1 didn’t claim another game in the set.
Though he exhibited resilience in the fourth set, Alcaraz never recovered the momentum as Djokovic seized the opportunity to race to victory. Djokovic had all the answers as he went about, probing and prodding Alcaraz, and forcing errors upon him in a cat-and-mouse encounter while saving all four break points he faced in the opening set to take a 6-3 lead. Alcaraz and his irrepressible energy took the fore in the second set. He brought the fans to his feet with several shots for the highlight reel, and eventually broke through to claim two breaks of serve to level the contest at a set apiece. The contest was dead even until the conclusion of the second game of the third set, which introduced confusion and drama into the contest. Alcaraz suffered a cramp in his left leg after missing a return, and opted to receive medical attention for it at 1-1.
Given it was not a changeover, he chose to hand a full game to Djokovic in order to get his leg checked out. That decision meant Djokovic was given a critical service break and he quickly consolidated for a 3-1 advantage as Alcaraz struggled to move. Quickly down 4-1 in the third set, the Spaniard was treated at the next changeover, with both of his legs attended to by an on-court physician. Djokovic motored through the final two games of the set as Alcaraz showed little life, taking it 6-1. Alcaraz couldn’t muster much resistance in the fourth set, with Djokovic winning 12 of the final 13 games to close out the victory in three hours and 23 minutes. On Sunday he will bid to become the oldest men’s singles champion in Roland-Garros Open Era history.