Roland-Garros: Alcaraz – Djokovic, the shock in the semi-final that everyone is waiting for

2023-06-07 06:43:30

We have this dream semi-final. It will pit world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 20, against planetary number 3 Novak Djokovic, 36. Since No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev left the tournament early on, there couldn’t be a finer opposition. We’ve been waiting for this match since the beginning, since the draw that announced it. He will bring this Roland-Garros out of the sweet torpor in which he has been bathing for several days. Let’s face it: there hasn’t been much since the start of the fortnight that has particularly thrilled us: more French people and a hierarchy that is too often respected. It hums a little.

So can’t wait for Friday when two of the best players in the world will look each other in the eye. This match will mark the history of the tournament, no doubt about it.

Two scenarios arise. Either Novak Djokovic wins and he goes straight to a 23rd coronation in a Grand Slam tournament. No one has done better, surely no one will do better. We can always debate it ad infinitum but under these conditions, the Serb will be able to close the debate on the best tennis player of all time.

Either Alcaraz wins and in turn, he takes an option on the final victory. If he succeeds, the world number 1 will open a new chapter in the history of the tournament. A chapter still in Spanish colors but, for the first time since 2005 – apart from the Wawrinka parenthesis in 2015 – the winner will not be one of the three giants: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic. It is said of the new Spanish prodigy that he is gone to reign as long as his elder in Paris. He wants it to start now.

“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best”

During their career, the two men only crossed paths once. It was in Madrid in the spring of 2022 and at home the Spaniard won on clay 6-7, 7-5, 7-6. This tight score probably foreshadows what will happen on Friday. “Carlos reminds me of someone from his country who plays with his left hand, smiles Novak Djokovic, referring to his eternal Iberian rival Rafael Nadal. He deserves his success, no doubt. He works hard and is already a very complete player who is only 20 years old. So we only played once in Madrid last year with 7-6 in the third set for him. We haven’t played against each other since. »

Carlos Alcaraz was born in May 2003… the year the Serb entered the circuit. In earnings in his career, the Serb has accumulated €168 million against “only” €15 million for the Spaniard who entered the great barnum in 2018. Djokovic therefore already collects 22 Grand Slam titles when Alcaraz has only won one. , the US Open in 2022. This duel will also be a clash of generations: “This match is the one that many people want to see, continues Djoko. That’s definitely the biggest challenge for me, you know, so far in the tournament. He’s definitely a guy to beat here. I can not wait to be there. ” Like everyone.

45th half in Grand Slam for one, 2nd for the other…

Who is favourite? Dare it, nobody! Djokovic has the experience, Alcaraz, the passion of youth. “Carlos is very friendly, he behaves well on and off the courts, already congratulates the eldest. He brings a lot of his intensity to matches. I have two days of complete rest before this semi-final and I know one thing from experience. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Alcaraz is aware of this: “Novak is going to play his 45th Grand Slam semi-final, I only have my second, but you shouldn’t think about that, otherwise…” smiled the Spaniard.

A maxim already applied by the youngest world number 1 of the Open era. At 20, Carlos Alcaraz is already the boss of the circuit. But if he wants to mark his territory and reign in the savannah, he must defeat the old lions. This is the first time with this semi-final that he faces one of the three legends of this sport in a Grand Slam tournament. Remember that last year, like Djokovic for that matter, Alcaraz had not passed the quarter-finals. He had been beaten by Alexander Zverev. Remember also that he is engaged at Roland-Garros for only the third time. Two years ago, he disappeared anonymously in the third round, the year of the second coronation of… Novak Djokovic, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.

“My level improves with each victory, thinks the Spaniard. I played this Tuesday against Stefanos, one of the best games of my career. Everything seemed easy to me while trying to keep it simple. It means I feel good. “It bodes well before playing one of the most important fights of his young career: “Since the draw, everyone has been waiting for the match against Novak, thinks Alcaraz. Me too. I really want to play this match. For a year, I want to play again against Novak. It’s incredible to write history, to play against such a player in such a setting. Only one certainty: it will be magical.