Carlos Alcaraz (No. 1 in the world), who passed over the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), and Novak Djokovic (3rd), who used his survival instincts to come back against Karen Khachanov (11th), will meet in the ‘super semifinal’ on Friday in Roland Garros.
There were many expectations about the duel between Alcaraz and Tsitsipas, but the difference in level was abysmal: 6-2, 6-1 and 7-6 (5) in two hours and 10 minutes.
The Spaniard had food for his rival’s morale, with victories in all four games played, but the massacre in the night session of Philippe Chatrier threatens to leave a deeper scar on the Greek, which at least stretched the agony in the final minute .
Now he will collide with Djokovic, the semifinal dreamed by the tennis planet: “I really want to play it. I have always said that to be the best, you have to beat the best, Novak is the best player in the world.”
Earlier, the Serb survived to prevail 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 against Khachanov, in three hours and 38 minutes. It will be the 12th Roland Garros semifinal played by the winner of 22 Grand Slam tournaments.
The game turned completely in that tie break. Djokovic arrived with water up to his neck, without having managed to have a break point, but in the tiebreaker he transformed and achieved a 7-0 lead that left the Russian reeling.
The cross between Alcaraz and Djokovic is not only coming as an anticipated final. Friday’s game could leave more than clues about the world No. 1. If the Murcian wins the duel, they will automatically hold the top of the ATP ranking. To unseat him, the Serb needs to win the title.
In the female category, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) defeated the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (192nd) by a double 6-4. She gave more than just talk about what happened when she finished the game.
Sabalenka went over and waited at the net, but Svitolina went straight to greet the chair umpire without shaking his hand, as she has done all tournament against the Russian and Belarusian players.
With this gesture, the Ukrainian earned boos from the public, despite being the local favorite for being married to the Frenchman Gael Monfils. When asked if Sabalenka inflamed the situation by waiting for her leaning against the net, Svitolina said: “Yes, I do, unfortunately.”
The winner of the Australian Open will play for a place in the final against the Czech Karolina Muchova (43rd), who beat the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (333rd) 7-5, 6-2.
Source: Ambito
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