Novak Djokovic chased a deep corner smash from Carlos Alkaraz and closed his backhand early in Friday’s US Open semi-finals.
Djokovic’s 92 mph sliding two-handed sliding was not as good as winning the game as the Serbs lost straight sets 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 amid a stunning effort from one of the game’s rising superstars at Alkaraz.
At the age of 38, Djokovic ran out of gas early in the third set, losing two sets of tiebreakers and unable to find momentum against the second seed, who hadn’t lost a set throughout the tournament. Djokovic hinted at his retirement earlier this year After losing to Janik Thinner at the French Open, his words reflected those statements following his latest Grand Slam exit in New York.
“I’m happy with the level of tennis, but it’s just physicality,” Djokovic said Friday. “Like I said after the quarterfinals, I said I would try my best to maintain that level and put my body into shape to crush it for the next few hours needed, but that wasn’t enough.
Djokovic jumped 3-0 in the second set, acknowledging energy from fans inside Arthur Ash Stadium after an early break before Arkaraz scored his game to a level that could only be seen from his counterpart at his peak.
Alcaraz reached all drop shot attempts, hit a series of cross-court winners, and Djokovic extended many saves and deep turns in search of energy. This is what happens to a 22-year-old who is probably the fastest player on the tour and rarely a tire.
“Yeah, it will be very difficult to overcome the hurdles of sinners and Alkaraz in the top five in the Grand Slam in the future. I think I have the best chance of the top three, but the top five is difficult. I haven’t given up on the Grand Slam in that respect.
Djokovic is 5-3 in his career, including winning the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australia Open, but after winning four of his first five with him, he struggled with the sinners.
Since Djokovic’s last major victory…
2025 | Wimbledon | Jannik Sinner |
2025 | French Open | Carlos Alcalaz |
2025 | Australia’s opening | Jannik Sinner |
2024 | We are open | Jannik Sinner |
2024 | Wimbledon | Carlos Alcalaz |
2024 | French Open | Carlos Alcalaz |
2024 | Australia’s opening | Jannik Sinner |
2023 | We are open | Novak Djokovic |
Since Djokovic’s last major title at the 2023 US Open, Alkaraz or Sinner has won the last seven majors. If the top seed player in the tournament beats Canadian Felix Auger Aria Sim as a heavy favorite on Friday night, that number will move to eight.
“That’s not that I’m not going to skip a Grand Slam. I want to play a Grand Slam, a full Grand Slam season next year,” Djokovic said. “Let’s see if that happens. They are the pillars of our sport and the most important tournament we have. I think I’m a little more of a top three. It’s a week’s tournament, or a pretty few days’ master tournament between matches.
Djokovic was the third best player in most Grand Slams in this victory from the sinner and Alkaraz, but as noted after his defeat on Friday, he is no longer his prime compared to his age, and a potential five-setter marathon against these two is difficult.
