NEW YORK – Carlos Alcaraz’s revenge tour is nearing completion after dispatching Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the US Open semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and he is headed to the final in search of his sixth Grand Slam title.
Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, had said he wanted payback from Novak Djokovic after he beat him in the Australian Open in January and the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics last summer.
The No. 2 seed did just that, improving to a staggering 53-0 all-time after winning the first two sets at a Grand Slam tournament.
“Today, I’d say, it wasn’t the best level of the tournament for me,” Alcaraz said after the match, “but I just kept a cool level (from) the beginning until the last point.”
Alcaraz awaits the winner on Sunday, between the No. 1 seed and top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime, who take center stage in the other semifinal.
Alcaraz beat Sinner in a classic at the French Open final, Sinner returned the favor by taking home the Wimbledon title in July, and the Spaniard went on to defeat him for the Cincinnati Open championship, serving as a tune-up for the US Open. Alcaraz and Sinner have won each of the seven Grand Slam championships.
After losing the first set, Djokovic was in firm control in the second, up three games to none, when Alcaraz broke him in the fifth game and steadily held his serve until he forced a tiebreak, where he easily put away the set. The 38-year-old Djokovic, on another day, against any other player, outside of Alcaraz and Sinner, had a chance to extend or even win the match, but was undone by 30 unforced errors, compared to 15 winners.
But the 24-time Grand Slam champion will have to wait another day for his possible record-breaking Slam victory, and next up is the 2026 Australian Open, which he has won 10 times. It is the first time since 2017 that Djokovic has not appeared in a Grand Slam final in a calendar year, as he lost in the semifinal round in all four majors.
Djokovic said he has a better chance if the matches were best-of-three sets, not best-of-five, like the major tournaments, and will continue to fight for another Grand Slam.
‘I’m happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it’s just the physicality of it, you know. As I said after the quarterfinals,’ Djokovic said. ‘I’m going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it’s needed, but, you know, it wasn’t enough. That’s something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can’t control.’
Alcaraz will return to the No. 1 spot in the rankings if he wins the tournament and is now on a 12-match winning streak. He has only lost twice since April, still hasn’t dropped a set this year at Flushing Meadows, and has spent less than 10 hours on the court in his run-up to the US Open finals.
Alcaraz takes second set; in control
Djokovic’s chances of reaching a final and competing for a 25th Grand Slam championship are looking bleak as he lost the second set tiebreak and is down two sets. Alcaraz improved to 15-8 in tiebreaks this year, while Djokovic has an 8-13 tiebreak record in 2025.
2nd set headed to tiebreak
A crucial tiebreak is forthcoming, with Djokovic having a chance to square the match at one set apiece, or Alcaraz trying to put more distance between the two in an effort to get back to the final on Sunday
Djokovic’s lead evaporates
All it took was one service hold and one break for Alcaraz to get back in the match. Djokovic’s three-game streak to open the set was followed up by one from Alcaraz, and we are square at 3 heading into the crucial 7th game, with Djokovic on serve.
Djovokic with upper hand in second set
One of the rare occasions of the tournament puts Djokovic up two games in the second set as Alcaraz was broken when his forehand on break point went way out of bounds. It could be a long match, and it will be interesting to see how Djokovic’s fitness holds up against the 22-year-old Spaniard.
Alcaraz wins first set
Both men are not letting up, both Alcaraz have done what they needed to do and have held their serve throughout, leading to a 6-4 first set win to continue the streak of not losing a set in this tournament.
Djokovic fighting back
Djokovic is holding his serve and keeping the match close, and Alcaraz shows no signs of his serve being effective. Coming into the match, Alcaraz had won 99% of his service games and 84% of his first serves, as well as 68% of his second serves.
Alcaraz up two games early
Djokovic began the match serving and was broken during the seven-minute first game. The No. 7 seed Djokovic had four unforced errors in the game, including the last forehand error to put him down a break. Alcaraz rolled through his service game with little trouble and looks to be in command.
Near-perfect conditions for tennis
Unlike last night for the women’s semifinal matches, because of rain and nearly 30 miles per hour winds, the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be open for the Djokovic-Alcaraz match. Temperatures in Flushing Meadows are hovering around 80 degrees, and there should be no significant effect from the wind.
How to watch Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz
No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz will face off against No. 7 Novak Djokovic in the US Open men’s semifinal match.
- Date: Friday, Sept. 5
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
Watch the 2025 US Open on Fubo (free trial)
How to watch 2025 US Open: Dates, TV, streaming
- Dates: Sunday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Sept. 7
- Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York
- TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
- Stream: Fubo