‘Lucky’ Djokovic to face Alcaraz after battling past Fritz and hostile crowd

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

After defeating American Taylor Fritz in a brutal match, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz met in the blockbuster US Open semi-final.

Fourth seed Fritz kept Djokovic’s serve under constant pressure, but the Serb surmounted to numerous break points and a hostile crowd to claim a 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4 victory.

Djokovic said at times that he believed he was “lucky,” adding that “it was really anybody’s match.”

He was, in my opinion, the better player for the majority of the second and third sets.

If Djokovic wants to reach the final and fight off Alcaraz in the record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles match, he must now defeat the second seed.

The 16-year-old Spaniard’s junior joined Djokovic in advancing to the last four earlier on Tuesday when he won 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 over Czech Jiri Lehecka.

After the dominating era of Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz and Sinner have taken the top spot in men’s tennis.

Djokovic is the only active member of the iconic trio now that Federer and Nadal are no longer active, and as he searches for the 25th major to clear Australia’s Margaret Court, time is not on his side.

He exhibited some of the resilience that has frequently defined his distinguished career in opposition to Fritz.

Djokovic started off strong by breaking Fritz’s first service game on the way to a 3-0 lead. After missing a set point at 5-2, the Serb fought back and saved five break points before serving the opener.

In the second set, Fritz continued to threaten, but he eventually grew frustrated as he wasted opportunities before Djokovic made a 4-3 lead.

However, the Californian finally converted his first break point at the eleventh time of asking just as Djokovic was serving for a two-set lead.

In the following game, he dropped three double faults and an unforced error, but Djokovic continued to play as a winner by deciding to tie the game.

In the third set, Djokovic complained to the umpire about the yelling out of the crowd during his serve, which caused the atmosphere to elicit a little hostility.

Some members of the audience began booing the four-time champion as he took advantage of the disruption to take advantage of the 4-1 lead, and some even started jeering the four-time champion.

After a grueling three hours and 24 minutes, Djokovic regained his composure and hit the decisive blow at 5-4 with a double fault from Fritz sealing his place in the final four.

Taylor didn’t deserve that final game, Djokovic said, “he didn’t deserve that,” and it was nerve-wracking, honestly tough to end with a double fault.

“In many of my service games, I just wanted to play every ball and stay alive.”

Djokovic has triumphed over Alcaraz in their previous two matches, including the Olympic final last year, but Alcaraz has lost in their previous two matches.

After a brilliant 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 display against Lehecka, the five-time Grand Slam champion said he is “here to entertain.”

He kept a laser-like focus throughout the match while also finding time to showmanship during the victory, when he surprised the crowd with his incredible arsenal of shot-making skills.

Alcaraz, 22, told Sky Sports, “Sometimes I play a shot that I shouldn’t play at the time, but it’s the way I love playing tennis.”

I want to play solid, play well, and play smart, but why not when I have the chance to make a great shot, let’s say, or a hot shot?

“I’m here to entertain the people, my team, and myself.”

Alcaraz, who won the US Open in 2022, has made it to the semi-finals in New York for the third time.