Alcaraz dismisses Djokovic 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to reach US Open Final

Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard, continues to make history. In the fall of 2022, he became the youngest to win the US Open and achieve the number one ranking. Currently ranked #2, he can surpass Jannik Sinner should he lift the trophy on Sunday evening.

This season, he leads the ATP Tour with six titles, including two at the Masters 1000 level and a grand slam at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic, sixteen years his senior, has not tasted Grand Slam glory since the 2023 US Open (d. Medvedev). Asserting he’s hungry is an understatement; dismissing his chances, imprudent.

The former world #1 and 24-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia has appeared in the most US Open finals at ten, winning four. He led the head-to-head 5-3, including 3-0 on hardcourts, and was victorious the last two times they competed: the Australian Open 2025 and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

On Arthur Ashe Stadium with the roof open, Djokovic served first with a raucous NYC crowd on tap. He missed 5/10 first serves, faced two deuce points, and dumped serve following two consecutive unforced errors. Alcaraz made 3/6 first serves, including a 128mph serve up the tee, and held to 30 to consolidate the break.

Djokovic hit a fantastic forehand volley down the line, but faced a break point and deuce, yet held for 1-2 with his first ace. Alcaraz dictated with pace and depth but struggled on serve, missing 6/10 first serves, including a double fault. After leading 40-0, he faced two deuce points but held following two consecutive mishit returns.

Djokovic opened the fifth with two consecutive errors, including a double fault, but with an ace up the tee and another netted drop shot from Alcaraz, held to 30 for 2-3. The world #2 opened with a spectacular crosscourt backhand and with two additional winners and a huge serve up the tee, held to 15 for 4-2.

Djokovic opened the seventh with a massive serve down the middle and with a winning crosscourt forehand, held to 30 for 3-4. Alcaraz serving with new balls held to love with a colossal serve up the tee, while Djokovic held to 15 for 3-5.

The reigning French Open champion served for the set with the crowd repeatedly chanting “Novak.” Despite the distraction, he struck his first ace and secured the set 6-4 when Djokovic netted a forehand.

Djokovic served first in the second and despite two consecutive forehand errors, held to 30 while Alcaraz gifted four unforced errors and dropped serve. The emboldened crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the 24-time grand slam champion stepped to the line to serve. Djokovic upped the ante by making 4/4 first serves and holding at love to consolidate the break. Alcaraz did not capitulate; with a winning forehand volley and drop shot on the first two points, he held to 15 for 1-3.

Djokovic donated three unforced errors, the last to dump serve, while Alcaraz hit two consecutive forehand winners to consolidate the break for 3-3. Djokovic opened the seventh with a cross-court forehand winner and with a forehand down the line, held at love.

Alcaraz struck three remarkable winners and held to 30 to level at four, while Djokovic opened with a double fault, lost a 27-shot rally with a netted backhand, but held to 30 for 5-4 with a monster serve up the tee. Alcaraz serving to stay in the set raised the stakes with two consecutive aces, holding easily to 15 to level.

Djokovic made 3/4 first serves and held at love for 6-5 while Alcaraz struck a forehand volley winner and a 128mph ace to force the breaker. While Alcaraz often camped out on the baseline, Djokovic dug in a few feet behind.

Alcaraz raced to a 4-1 lead following four unforced errors from Djokovic. The 4-time US Open champion reached 4-5, but Alcaraz was too steady, clinching the breaker and set with a 131mph serve up the tee and another backhand error from the Serbian.  

Alcaraz served first in the third and led 2-1 when Djokovic dumped serve with a double fault. The world #2 consolidated the break for 4-1 with an ace up the tee. Djokovic seemed to struggle physically as Alcaraz maneuvered him from side to side with pace and depth.

The seventh seed held to 30 for 2-4 while Alcaraz held at love with an incredible inside-in forehand. Djokovic was down 2-5 served to stay in the match, but with another costly double fault and a mishit volley conceded the match.

Djokovic will have to wait until next year in Australia for another shot at winning a record-extending 25th grand slam title. Carlos Alcaraz has reached the final without the loss of a set and, for the first time, defeated Djokovic on hardcourt. At twenty-two, he is the youngest man since Jim Courier (1991-92) to reach three consecutive grand slam finals.

While it was a dominating performance, it wasn’t pretty. He finished with thirty-one winners to thirty errors, many of which were poorly timed and executed drop shots.

He struck seven aces to two double faults and won 84% of first and a respectable 54% of second serve points. He dropped serve only once while breaking his opponent four times.

On Sunday, he will play the winner of the evening’s semifinal between world #1and defending champion, Jannik Sinner, and world #27 Felix Auger Aliassime. Regardless of the opponent, it will be a high-stakes match with a Grand Slam title on the line.