Cramp drama at the French Open
Sovereign Djokovic throws out ailing Alcaraz
6/9/2023, 6:28 p.m
The semi-finals at the French Open take a dramatic turn: until the beginning of the third set, it looks like a tense match at world class level. But then Carlos Alcaraz has calf problems. After that he sees no country against Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic cheered cautiously and patted the deeply disappointed Carlos Alcaraz on the shoulder. After a big tennis drama about the 20-year-old Spaniard, the 36-year-old Serb reached the final of the French Open for the seventh time. Djokovic prevailed against the badly battered world number one 6: 3, 5: 7, 6: 1, 6: 1 and can hope for the third title at the clay court classic in Paris. Alcaraz was apparently plagued by cramps and could hardly move from the beginning of the third round.
World number three Djokovic only needs one win for the 23rd triumph in a Grand Slam tournament, with which he would secure the sole record ahead of Rafael Nadal. Djokovic scores in the final of the clay court classic in Paris this Sunday (3 p.m./Eurosport and in the live ticker on ntv.de) on Alexander Zverev or the Norwegian Casper Ruud. The second semi-final is in the evening.
Watched by stars like boxing legend Mike Tyson and actor Michael Keaton, spectators witnessed a major sporting tragedy on the hottest day of the tournament. At the beginning of the third set, Alcaraz was suddenly unable to perform after a quick step. He hobbled helplessly and desperately across the square on one leg. Since no treatment was planned at the time, the 20-year-old voluntarily gave up a game and had the doctor come. The spectators booed passionately about Djokovic automatically winning the game – up to this point it had been a high-class, spectacular semi-final with plenty of highlights.
Alcaraz could hardly walk because of his complaints, he seemed completely inhibited. The third set was gone. Another treatment brought little improvement: the US Open winner didn’t want to give up at all, fought with a big heart, but had lost all rhythm and mobility. With the score at 0: 5, Alcaraz won another game in the fourth set, but Djokovic was able to celebrate less than an hour after the Spaniard’s injury began.
Pressure and nervousness are noticeable to Alcaraz
For the second oldest finalist in the history of the French Open, it is already the 34th final in a Grand Slam. Should he also prevail on Sunday, he would become the first male pro to win each of the big four tournaments three times.
At the beginning of the game, Alcaraz was under pressure and nervous. After every point gained, the Spaniard cheered himself on and encouraged himself. But with his strong returns, Djokovic immediately put his opponent under pressure and dominated the initial phase. Alcaraz complained that he had to involve his opponent in longer rallies. And the game got tighter. Djokovic’s service game to 5: 2 lasted more than 14 minutes, in which he fended off three break balls. After 56 minutes, Djokovic secured the first round.
Both had only given up one round each in the course of the tournament, Alcaraz was on the pitch three and a half hours less. And until his problems, the 20-year-old took advantage of this. With a score of 1: 1, he scored the point of the tournament so far: sliding backwards, Alcaraz hit an incredible passing ball past his left leg – the spectators in the stands also pulled out their cell phones to study the scene again. Djokovic also applauded appreciatively with his racket. When the score was 3: 4, Djokovic had his right forearm, which apparently hurt, treated for a long time. But after Alcaraz secured the second set, the Spaniard was shocked a little later – and then quickly eliminated.
Alcaraz, who failed in the quarterfinals last year to Alexander Zverev, has to wait for his second Grand Slam title after the US Open 2022. He lost in the second duel against Djokovic for the first time in his career and now has to fear that the Serb will replace him as number one in the world if he triumphs on Sunday. Djokovic would then enter his 388th week as the world number one.