French Open 2023: Djokovic Faces Ruud In The Final

With a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory over ailing Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros semifinals on Friday May 9, Novak Djokovic made significant progress toward securing a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title.

The world number three will play fourth seed Casper Ruud in Sunday’s title matchup. Ruud defeated German 22nd seed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the final for the second year in a row.

Earlier, the top ranked Alcaraz had evened out the challenge with Djokovic when everything went awry as the Spaniard limped to his seat holding his right leg at 1-1 in the third set.

The US Open champion was clearly hindered by cramps as he continued to play, but Djokovic was merciless, dropping only one of 12 games to advance to the final.

“It’s been really tough for me, honestly. I disappointed myself honestly in a match like this,” said Alcaraz, who skipped this year’s Australian Open because of a hamstring injury.

“The first set and the second set were really, really intense and I started to cramp in my arm. At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs. The arms as well, every part of the legs.”

Djokovic will compete in his 34th Grand Slam final, his seventh at Roland Garros, where he won the Musketeers’ Cup twice—in 2021 and 2016—and will be defending his title.

Alcaraz, who had dominated the draw, put the 36-year-old up against the ultimate test, only for the 20-year-old to suddenly collapse.

“Bad luck for Carlos. Obviously at this level, the last thing you want is cramps and physical problems in the last stages of a Grand Slam,” said Djokovic, who was in his 46th semifinal at a major.

“It was probably difficult for him to decide whether he should retire or continue until the last point but he’s a fighter, so respect to him for that.”

The eagerly anticipated match began with Djokovic going for the throat and breaking for 3-1. He then saved four break points and won the first set after nearly an hour.

Both players exchanged punches with former heavyweight world boxer Mike Tyson, watching from the stands. In the second set, Alcaraz played some spectacular shots, and Djokovic was on the ropes.

French Open: Carlos Alcaraz Comes In As The Top Seed For The First Time

Djokovic overcooked a forehand, and the Spaniard leveled the match after a break, giving the impression that the momentum had changed.

“It is not easy to maintain that intensity,” said Djokovic, who has now won his last 100 Grand Slam matches in which he bagged the opening set.

“Towards the end of the second set he was the better player. I had to be aggressive, to take the ball early otherwise he would be the aggressive one.

“He’s very fast, very dynamic so I had to match that and do even better, which was very exhausting.”

In a game that could have been a classic, the younger player’s body, on the other hand, gave in first.

Ruud, who lost to Rafael Nadal in straight sets when the Spaniard won his 14th title on Parisian clay last year, had a mixed 2023 season until he returned to Roland Garros, where he has returned to his best form.

However, the Norwegian, who is pursuing a first major, is very much aware of the overwhelming errand in front of him.

“It’s going to be tough this year against Novak. Two of the toughest in history and I’ll be the underdog again,” Ruud said.

“I know Novak is trying to be the greatest. I’m going to try my best. He’s going for Grand Slam number 23 and I’m going for my first, so there’s a big difference.”