NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning the second set against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men’s Semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 5, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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It was a huge ask for 38-year-old Novak Djokovic to contend for his record 25th major title.
The GOAT of men’s tennis would likely have had to go through the Nos 4, 2 and 1 players in the world in the final three rounds of the US Open to capture the title.
No. 7 Djokovic took care of No. 4 Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals but had to step up several weight classes to have a chance at upsetting No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the semis.
In the end, the 22-year-old Alcaraz had all the answers and largely controlled the tempo en route to a 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 victory in front of a pro-Djokovic crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic is now 5-4 against Alcaraz, 2-3 in majors.
Alcaraz, who hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament, advanced to Sunday’s final against either No. 1 Jannik Sinner or No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime. He is bidding for his second US Open crown (2022), his sixth major title and his second this year after Roland Garros.
“It’s a great feeling,” Alcaraz said on court. “Once again the final of the US Open, it feels amazing.
“I just keep a cool level and…trying to play a really physical match. And I did it so in general I just played good tennis and I’m’just really happy to play in my second final in the US Open.’”
The winner takes home $5 million and the runner-up $2.5 million.
Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last seven majors combined and battled in the French Open and Wimbledon finals, splitting them.
Djokovic received a warm ovation as he left the court in defeat.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their Men’s Semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 5, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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As for Djokovic, a four-time US Open champ who hasn’t won a major since 2023, it’s unclear where he goes from here. During the tournament, he experienced issues with his forearm, neck and back – as well as a nasty blister on his big toe in the first round.
He has now gone two full years without a major title for the first time since 2009-10.
“Father Time is undefeated,” John McEnroe said on the ESPN broadcast.
It was Djokovic’s fourth loss in a Grand Slam semifinal this year – three of them to Sinner or Alcaraz.
“When I’m in shape and able to play my best tennis, I still believe that I can beat both Alcaraz and Sinner,” he said before the match, per Sportklub. “The most crucial thing is that I need to make a great effort, work very hard and take my body to the limit to have the opportunity to face them.
“It is a somewhat unfair battle because their youth and current superiority allows them to arrive in full condition, while I am already with the tank half empty. That’s biology. “It could be said that it benefits me to play in the semifinals with Carlos instead of Jannik, at least, that’s what the latest results suggest.
“In any case, in Australia and London I arrived injured at the semifinal match and now I don’t. Each game is a different story. I know Alcaraz is the favourite, he is playing at an impressive level, but I hope to raise my level.
“These matches are what make me continue to compete, it is exciting to have the opportunity to beat the best currently.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain falls against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men’s Semifinal match on Day Thirteen of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 5, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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After breaking Djokovic in the first game of the match, Alcaraz closed out the first set with a 118-mph service winner to take it 6-4.
Djokovic earned an early break in the second set for 2-0 as the crowd got behind the old man. But he was broken back for 3-2.
He fell behind 4-1 in the tiebreak despite chants of “No-vak, No-vak” from the crowd.
At times he looked alternately forlorn, exhausted and bemused.
Alcaraz closed out the second set with two service winners, the first at 131 mph.
In the third set, Alcaraz broke the Serb for a 3-1 lead and it looked all but over.
Alcaraz, 22, can regain the world No. 1 if he wins the title.
“The No. 1 is there but I’m trying not to think so much about it,” Alcaraz said earlier in the tournament.