Alcaraz to play Sinner in US Open final after beating Djokovic

In a highly anticipated showdown that drew acclaim from Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2, to victory in the US Open final, second seed Carlos Alcaraz prevailed decisively over the highly anticipated matchup at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 2022 champion Alcaraz soaked in deafening cheers on match point, which was touted as the hottest ticket in New York and lived up to the hype.

Djokovic had won their previous two games, including the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, but the 38-year-old showed wear and tear against the Spaniard 16 years his junior.

Alcaraz, who won his fifth major title at Roland Garros this year and finished second overall, said, “I’m working on it just the consistency on the matches, in the tournaments, and on the year in general.”

“Just not having ups and downs in the match,” he said. Just the starting point for the match; I just wanted to maintain that level for the duration of the match.

In the opening game, Djokovic dropped his serve after sending a shot past the baseline, and Alcaraz closed the match with an unreturnable serve.

The seventh seed entered the match in the second set, sending over a superb backhand to convert on a break point in the second game after being urged on by the celebrity-packed stands.

Alcaraz put his foot on the gas, set up a break point, and converted from the baseline after surviving a 16-shot rally with one of his fine forehand winners, but he had not dropped a set so far in New York and was not about to begin.

In a cheeky exchange at the net and paused to take in the crowd’s roars, Djokovic outlasted his opponent to win the tiebreak, a testament to the Serb’s unwavering appeal two decades after his debut in the Flushing Meadows main draw.

In the fourth game of the third set, Djokovic gave the Spaniard a break point with a double fault, but the Spaniard kept his composure, closing out the tiebreak with two more unreturnable serves.

Alcaraz, who had twice as many winners as his rival, said, “It’s not easy playing against him, to be honest.”

“I’m considering the legend and what he has accomplished throughout his career. It’s challenging to ignore it. Therefore, facing him becomes more difficult.

Djokovic hit yet another double fault on the final match, and he leaped on the net as he congratulated his opponent with a smile after giving the match away with a wide forehand.

“Of course, it’s frustrating on the court when you can’t physically maintain that level.” Djokovic, who won the last of his four US Open titles in 2023, said that it was something that was expected as well.

It “arrives with age and with time.”

Sinner triumphs over the spirited Auger-Aliassime challenge.

In the second semifinal, Jannik Sinner, the reigning champion, defeated 25th-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 33-6, 6-3, 6-4 to clinch a third consecutive blockbuster title against Alcaraz, reviving one of the sport’s most divisive rivalries.

The typically machine-like Sinner occasionally failed but prevailed to win a third successive major final with the Spaniard. Shortly after Alcaraz wove his magic to crush Djokovic.

The Italian world No 1 turned in a backhand to wrap up the lopsided opening set after a brief bout of resistance in the fifth game of the competition.

In his second New York semifinal, Auger-Aliassime calmed his nerves, taking a 5-3 lead into the next set before falling head-to-head with Sinner in the third set before the momentum regained.

Sinner, who earlier took a medical leave for an unspecified condition, found his footing in the third set to fend off a strong challenge from his energized Canadian foe with some clutch serving in the following set to advance.

On Sunday, Sinner and Alcaraz will compete in their third Grand Slam final. This year, he won the Australian Open and the Wimbledon titles, but he lost to Alcaraz in a five-set epic battle to reach the French Open final.

“Sunday is a very special day and an amazing final again,” Sinner said. “I believe our rivalry started here in this amazing match in 2022,” I believe. We are now two different players with different levels of confidence.