Novak Djokovic defeats Carlos Alcaraz to reach the French Open final

Novak Djokovic is on his way to the French Open final.

Djokovic recorded a victory for the old guard in Paris on Thursday afternoon, registering a kind of technical knockout against a cramped Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic triumphed in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, in what they believed was one for the ages.

Djokovic, the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, was arguably the greatest player ever. He tried to hold off Alcaraz, a 20-year-old who wants to get one step closer to completing his takeover of the sport. Djokovic and Alcaraz had shown over the past year that they were a level better than anyone else as they took turns at Grand Slam titles and clamored for the world’s best.

And for over two hours it was a competition for all ages. Djokovic played tennis almost perfectly to seize the first set, only to have Alcaraz overcome his early tightness to show his strength and magical punch in the next. When Djokovic left the field for a bathroom break, there was every reason to believe it would last five sets and over four hours, like so many classic matches Djokovic has played in his storied career.

It didn’t. Not even close.

Early in the third set, after Djokovic pushed Alcaraz to the toughest tennis he has played in the tournament, the young Spaniard suffered leg cramps. At the 1-1 he walked to his seat and asked for treatment from a trainer. The move cost him the next game, one in which he would have served, as the request did not occur during a scheduled substitution.

That didn’t matter though, as Alcaraz could barely move when he returned to the track. He quickly lost the next four games and the set 6-1.

He then left the field for another break and came back slightly stronger, but the lightning fast movement that is one of the hallmarks of his game was still missing in action. The outcome became only a matter of time and it was fitting as Djokovic had, in a way, made it that way from early afternoon.

He now plays the winner of the second semi-final between Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Norway’s Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final. It will be Djokovic’s 34th Grand Slam final. If he wins, he will take the lead in the race for the most men’s Grand Slam championships. He currently ranks 22 with Rafael Nadal, who pulled out of this French Open with hip and leg injuries.