French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic takes on Carlos Alcaraz in Paris semi-finals

Djokovic and Alcaraz volition conscionable astatine a Grand Slam for the archetypal time, having lone played each different erstwhile astatine the 2022 Madrid Open

From the infinitesimal the French Open gully was made astir a fortnight ago, the tennis satellite licked its lips astatine the imaginable of 1 blockbuster match.

On Friday, the 2 men - astatine other ends of their careers but successful the aforesaid stunning signifier - yet spell head-to-head astatine a Grand Slam erstwhile they conscionable successful the Roland Garros semi-finals.

"That's the lucifer that a batch of radical privation to see," said 36-year-old Djokovic, who is bidding for a 3rd French Open rubric and a men's grounds 23rd major.

Alcaraz, 20, won his archetypal Grand Slam title astatine the US Open successful September and is contesting his maiden semi-final connected the Paris clay.

"Since the gully came out, everyone was expecting that match. Myself arsenic well. I person truly wanted to play this match," Alcaraz said.

The brace person agelong been considered the main contenders to assistance the Coupe des Mousquetaires connected Sunday, adjacent earlier 14-time champion Rafael Nadal withdrew with a hep injury.

Whoever wins successful the past 4 volition beryllium favourite to bushed the victor of Friday's different semi-final betwixt Norwegian 4th effect Casper Ruud and Germany's 22nd effect Alexander Zverev.

Duel the tennis satellite has been waiting for

When Djokovic's sanction popped retired of the French Open machine successful the aforesaid fractional of the gully arsenic Alcaraz, determination were murmurs among those sitting successful the Roland Garros ceremony.

Djokovic whitethorn person won 5 of the past 7 majors helium has played, but helium is seeded 3rd successful Paris aft having wounded issues successful the build-up.

That meant helium would either onshore successful Alcaraz's fractional and perchance look him successful the past four, oregon extremity up connected the broadside of 2nd effect Daniil Medvedev and not capable to look the apical effect until the final.

Of course, the unpredictable quality of athletics means things seldom cookware retired arsenic expected successful the draws.

But the good signifier of Djokovic and Alcaraz - some dropping conscionable 1 acceptable truthful acold - has ensured the blockbuster semi-final volition instrumentality place.

"It's decidedly the biggest situation for maine truthful acold successful the tournament," said Djokovic, who won the Roland Garros rubric successful 2016 and 2021.

"If you privation to beryllium the best, you person to bushed the best. He's decidedly a feline to bushed here. I'm looking guardant to that."

Djokovic and Alcaraz, who has won 4 of the 8 tournaments helium has competed successful this season, person been 2 of the standout players connected the men's circuit this season.

However, duels betwixt the brace - either head-to-head oregon adjacent being contiguous successful the biggest tournaments - person been rare.

"We played lone erstwhile successful Madrid past year, 7-6 successful the 3rd for him. We haven't played since," said Djokovic.

"Most of the tournaments this twelvemonth we were not successful the aforesaid draw, but present we are."

Further spice to the juncture is provided by the satellite fig 1 ranking being connected the line.

Alcaraz volition stay astatine the apical if helium beats Djokovic, with the Serb needing to triumph the tourney to reclaim the position.

Will younker oregon acquisition beryllium key?

While the pair's results astatine Roland Garros this twelvemonth person been likewise superb, determination is simply a immense gulf betwixt them successful presumption of vocation experience.

Djokovic is appearing successful his 45th large semi-final, with lone Roger Federer (46) playing more, and is aiming to eclipse Nadal arsenic the oldest French Open men's champion.

Alcaraz, who turned 20 astatine the commencement of May, would go the youngest Roland Garros finalist since a 20-year-old Nadal won the rubric successful 2006, and hopes younker volition beryllium a bigger origin than pedigree.

"It's going beryllium his 45th semi-final of a Grand Slam, this is going to beryllium my second," helium said.

"I would accidental the acquisition is amended successful that point, but I'm not going deliberation astir that."

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