Djokovic overpowers ailing Alcaraz to reach final

Novak Djokovic had to use every bit of his experience, relentlessness and fitness to beat a cramping Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 and reach the French Open final.

Victory on Friday leaves Djokovic one win away from a record-breaking 23rd grand slam triumph.

World No.1 Alcaraz produced one particularly brilliant shot — one that went viral within minutes and could be talked about for years — en route to claiming the second set of what, at the time, was a closely contested and thrilling showdown.

But in the end, this highly anticipated contest between the tennis generations was an anti-climax.

That’s because early in the third set, after nearly two-and-a-half hours of exertion and tension on a dry Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz’s body began to lock up.

First, his hand began to cramp. Then his legs. And so, at 1-1, Alcaraz needed to take a break for treatment from a trainer. But because it was not a changeover, Alcaraz was required to forfeit the following game and fell behind 2-1.

From there, it was pretty much all over. Djokovic, 36, was able to cruise to the finish against Alcaraz, who is 20, making for the widest age gap in a men’s grand slam semi-final since 1991.

It was Djokovic’s 45th semi but just the second for Alcaraz.

“I feel for him. I feel sorry … I hope he can recover very soon,” Djokovic said. “I told him at the net, he knows how young he is. He has plenty of time ahead of him. He’s going to win this tournament, I’m sure, many, many times.”

Not this time, however.

Instead, it is Djokovic, the No.3 seed, who will meet either No.4 Casper Ruud, of Norway, or No.22 Alexander Zverev, of Germany, in Sunday’s final.

Djokovic is hoping to leave Roland Garros with his third French Open title and his 23rd slam overall, which would put him ahead of Rafael Nadal as the most by a man in the history of tennis.

Nadal was absent from his favourite tournament this year because of a hip injury.