World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz soaked up everything Novak Djokovic could throw at him before marching into his second US Open final and denying the 38-year-old a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
The Spaniard, 22, claimed a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory in Friday’s semi-final, avenging defeats to Djokovic at the Australian Open and Olympic Games last year.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will provide the opposition in Sunday’s final after the Italian battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 to record his 300th career victory and reach a fifth consecutive Grand Slam final.
Remarkably, it will be the first time in the Open era that the same two players contest three major finals in a single season, with Alcaraz and Sinner having already split the honours in Paris and Wimbledon.
Alcaraz Too Strong for Djokovic
Djokovic, chasing a fifth US Open crown, arrived fresh after two rest days, but Alcaraz has looked in ominous form throughout the fortnight, not dropping a set en route to the final.
An immediate break set the tone as Alcaraz imposed himself early, and although Djokovic rallied in the second set to lead 3-0, his serve faltered and the Spaniard wrestled back control before dominating the tie-break.
The Serbian, who required treatment for a neck and shoulder issue, double-faulted twice to gift Alcaraz a break in the third, and the younger man stormed home to seal a straight-sets win.
“It’s a great feeling. Once again to be in the final of the US Open, it feels amazing,” Alcaraz said. “I served really well today, that was really important.”
Djokovic, reflective afterwards, admitted:
“It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner and Alcaraz in best-of-five. I have better chances in best-of-three. I’m not giving up, but it’s going to be very difficult.”
Expert Reaction
Ryan Harrison (Sky Sports): “Carlos didn’t play his best match but still won in straight sets – that shows his improvement. He’s serving unbelievably well. It feels like a changing of the guard when Novak, even at his best effort, comes up short.”
Martina Navratilova: “It stinks getting older as a tennis player. You play the right point and miss it, when 10 years ago you’d have made it with your eyes closed.” Laura Robson: “Novak couldn’t get a look in on Carlos’ first serve. That was always going to be key. Carlos wanted to make it physical, and Novak flagged physically at the end of the second set.”
Sinner Battles Past Auger-Aliassime
Sinner’s four-set win over Auger-Aliassime means he becomes only the eighth man in history to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a season, and the youngest in the Open era.
His 27-match hard-court major winning streak now equals Djokovic’s career-best, with only Roger Federer having done better.
Sinner, chasing a fifth Slam title, admitted he had a minor injury scare after an abdominal twinge, but insisted:
“After treatment it felt much better. At some point I didn’t feel anything anymore – so all good, nothing to worry about.”
Looking ahead to the final, Sinner said:
“Sunday is going to be a very special occasion. We know each other very well. The Grand Slams are the most important tournaments and finding myself again in the final, with an amazing crowd, it doesn’t get better.”
British Hopes End in New York
There was disappointment for Britain in the junior and wheelchair events.
Mika Stojsavljevic saw her title defence end in the girls’ singles semi-finals with a 0-6 6-1 6-1 defeat to Sweden’s Lea Nilsson.
Hannah Klugman also lost in the last four, beaten 6-3 6-2 by Belgian Jeline Vandromme. Alfie Hewett, a five-time US Open wheelchair singles champion, was edged out 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 7-5 by Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez.
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