Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic in three sets to reach US Open final

New York: Carlos Alcaraz is back in the US Open final after a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic that was a lot tougher than the scoreline will show.

The 22-year-old defeated Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 in a match that went a little more than two-and-a-half hours.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns a shot to Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.Credit: AP

Alcaraz used his youth, athleticism and creativity to assert himself against the much more accomplished, but also much older Djokovic on Friday (Saturday AEDT) for a berth in his third consecutive Grand Slam final.

By the end, Djokovic seemed resigned to the result.

The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz’s victory means he will face either No. 1 Jannik Sinner or No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime for the championship on Sunday in New York.

Novak Djokovic just couldn’t keep up with the 22-year-old Spaniard.Credit: Getty Images

Alcaraz is seeking his sixth major title and second at Flushing Meadows. He beat Sinner at the French Open in June and lost to his rival at Wimbledon in July.

Yesterday’s match was billed as the hottest ticket in New York and lived up to the hype, with a scoreline that belied its intensity, as the 2022 champion Alcaraz soaked in deafening cheers on match point.

Djokovic had won their two most recent meetings, including in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, but the 38-year-old showed wear-and-tear against the Spaniard 16 years his junior.

But after one last double fault and an unforced error, Djokovic was broken and it was Alcaraz who would be moving on.

More to come

AP and Reuters

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