On September 5, the first men’s finalist at the US Open will be decided as Novak Djokovic takes on Carlos Alcaraz in a crucial matchup for a chance to reach the championship. Here’s a look at this exciting contest.
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian star has made history in tennis, winning 24 Grand Slam titles. Now, at 38 years old and ranked seventh in the world, Djokovic aims for at least one more title. This season marks his fourth major semifinal, but he has not yet reached a final.
The tournament draw was favorable for Djokovic, with no matches where he was in serious danger. He started by defeating American Tyn in straightforward sets and then beat Schwaida, another local player, in four sets. He also won against Briton Norrie in four sets and had no trouble with German Struff. In the quarterfinals, he secured a victory over American Taylor Fritz: 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz has had a strong season so far, winning six tournaments, including Roland Garros. Just before the US Open, he took the Cincinnati title, which has further boosted his confidence.
In this tournament, Alcaraz hasn’t dropped a single set, though some opponents put up a fight. He began with a win over American Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, followed by easy victories against Italians Bellucci (6-1, 6-0, 6-3) and Darderi (6-2, 6-4, 6-0). His match against Frenchman Rederknech was tougher (7-6, 6-3, 6-4), but he comfortably defeated Czech Lehecka in the quarterfinals: 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Match facts
- Djokovic has played 40 matches this season, winning 31.
- Alcaraz has competed in 65 matches, winning 59.
- Current odds for the match: Djokovic to win – 4.05, Alcaraz to win – 1.27.
Head-to-head
The two have met eight times, with Djokovic leading 5-3. In crucial matches, they faced each other twice in Wimbledon finals, both won by Alcaraz, while Djokovic won the Olympic final in France.
Prediction
When top players like these meet, there’s always excitement, and high-level tennis is assured. On paper, Alcaraz is favored—he’s in excellent form, at his physical best, and significantly younger than Djokovic. The big question is whether Djokovic can match his pace. A good bet is on Alcaraz winning with a -4.5 game handicap.
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