Carlos Alcaraz conquers Novak Djokovic for US Open final return

NEW YORK—Carlos Alcaraz is first into the 2025 US Open men’s final conquering Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium Friday.

The 2022 champion lost their most recent meeting at the Australian Open in January, but avenged the defeat to hand the seventh-seeded Djokovic a fourth consecutive defeat in Grand Slam semifinals. The No. 2 seed advanced into the championship match over the 24-time Grand Slam champion after two hours and 23 minutes.

Read more: Novak Djokovic calls Alcaraz, Sinner "just too good" after US Open defeat

At 22 years old, Alcaraz became the youngest man since Jim Courier (1991-92) to reach three consecutive major finals.

Alcaraz and Djokovic have already built a significant rivalry in the three short years since the former broke onto the tennis scene, facing off eight times at the Masters, Grand Slam and the Olympic level.

Djokovic previously led their head-to-head, 5-3 and won their last two meetings at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and Down Under in Melbourne. Despite those wins, the Serb has struggled to break the semifinal ceiling at major tournaments, falling at the final-four stage at all three Slams this season. His last two losses came to Jannik Sinner who, along with Alcaraz, have become "Sincaraz," the Top 2 players in the men’s game.

World No. 1 for a record 428 weeks, Djokovic took the court for the first time since Wimbledon in Flushing Meadows and played himself into form, edging through four-setters in the first week against both Zachary Svajda and Cameron Norrie before hitting his stride in the second week, planting No. 4 seed and 2024 finalist Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.

By contrast, Alcaraz has appeared dialed in since defending his Roland Garros title but losing his Wimbledon crown to Sinner two months ago; the five-time major champion won his first Cincinnati Open title and roaring into the US Open semis without losing a set.

Alcaraz continued that momentum as play got underway Friday afternoon, breaking Djokovic in the opening game and serving his way to a one-set lead.

Alcaraz threatened to open up the second set in similar fashion, but Djokovic turned the tables on his young rival and raced out to a 3-0 lead, thrilling a packed Ashe Stadium embracing the 38-year-old as an underdog.

Djokovic looked to channel that energy as he built towards a comeback but suffered a dip in form when it came time to extend his lead, netting a backhand to hand the break back to Alcaraz.

With the score tied at four games apiece, Djokovic won the longest rally of the match (27 shots) to dig out of a 0-30 hole and put the set on course for a tiebreaker.

Alcaraz indeed served his way to a Sudden Death and nabbed the opening mini-break and shook off a brilliant play from Djokovic to capitalize on a pair of errors and lead 4-2 at the first change of ends.

Djokovic tracked an Alcaraz dropshot to claw back from a double mini-break down but Alcaraz nosed back in front, rallying the pro-Djokovic crowd towards his side. With the second set on his racquet, Alcaraz earned two set points with a 131-mile-per-hour serve; he only needed one as Djokovic erred long off the return.

With the match ticking past the two-hour mark, Djokovic suffered a nightmare service game early in the third set, throwing in two double faults to fall behind two sets and a break. Alcaraz took full advantage and consolidated with some strong serves and forehands to take a 4-1 lead.

The crowd tried in vain to lift Djokovic into a late comeback, but Alcaraz was undaunted and only got better as the match wore on, hitting through Djokovic for a love-hold that put him a game away from the final.

Serving on the brink of defeat, a double fault from Djokovic brought up two match points for Alcaraz. Djokovic made a brave last stand with a serve and volley, but missed the latter wide to see Alcaraz ease over the finish line in just under two and a half hours.

Standing between Alcaraz and a sixth Grand Slam title will be either Sinner or Auger-Aliassime, who face off later on Friday for the second semifinal. Should Sinner advance, it would mark the third straight Grand Slam final that would come down to Sinner and Alcaraz, the duo having faced off in the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this year. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 9-5, but Sinner won their most recent completed match at SW19, halting Alcaraz's quest for a third straight Wimbledon title.