As expected, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz met on Tuesday in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros, where they are the big favorites in the absence of Rafael Nadal.
Published on : 06/06/2023 – 20:06Modified : 06/06/2023 – 23:26
The young Spaniard world number 1 at 20, was played in the quarterfinals by the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), finalist in 2021, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5). For his part, the 36-year-old Serb (3rd) lost his first set of the tournament before dominating the Russian Karen Khachanov (11th) 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-4.
« He was better for the majority of the first two sets. I struggled to get into the match, but I managed a perfect tie break “Commented Djokovic, in search of a record 23rd Grand Slam title. “ It’s like there were two games in one. The first two sets (until the tie break) are my two worst of the tournament so far. And then the third and fourth were pretty good “, he analyzed. “ When I walked onto the court today, I probably left a part of me in the locker room. “, he summarized after signing his 90th victory on Parisian clay where only the master of the place Rafael Nadal did better (112).
He will thus play his twelfth half at Roland-Garros where only Nadal has done better (15 for 14 titles). It will also be his 45th half in Grand Slam and there, only Roger Federer did better (46).
For his part, Khachanov who had climbed into the last four of the last two Grand Slam tournaments (US Open 2022 and Australian Open in January) will not succeed in passing three.
As hoped, even inevitable, it is Alcaraz who will stand in the way of Djokovic on Friday in the semi-finals. The 20-year-old Spaniard, who became the world’s youngest No. 1 when he won his first Grand Slam tournament last year at the US Open – where Djokovic was unable to participate due to lack of an anti-covid vaccine -, has sickened Tsitsipas.
« beat the best »
Although the Greek, having trailed 5-2 in the third set, saved five match points in total and pushed the set to the tie break, he was overall completely overwhelmed and overpowered by Alcaraz who inflicted 36 winning strokes on him. “ I believe in myself, all the time Alcaraz said of the level of his dominance on Tuesday. ” I kinda lost my focus on the ending, but I’m glad I was able to get over that moment because the ending was very tense “, he added.
As for his match against Djokovic, “ this is the match that everyone wanted to see and that I wanted to play “, he said. ” Because to be the best, you have to beat the best ».
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(With AFP)
