Djokovic and Alcaraz meet in French Open semifinals; different matchup is Zverev vs. Ruud

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are scheduled to play in opposition to one another for the primary time in additional than a 12 months once they meet within the French Open semifinals.

The much-anticipated showdown is the primary singles match on Friday at Court Philippe Chatrier.

It is the forty fifth Grand Slam semifinal for Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, and the second for Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain.

Djokovic is hoping to go away Roland Garros this 12 months together with his third title in Paris and his twenty third main championship general, which might break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for essentially the most by a person within the historical past of tennis.

The different males’s semifinal will comply with, pitting No. 4 Casper Ruud, final 12 months’s runner-up at Roland Garros, in opposition to No. 22 Alexander Zverev. Neither has received a significant trophy.

Alcaraz is seeded No. 1, and Djokovic is No. 3. Each has dropped only one set alongside the best way to the semifinals.

They’ve solely confronted off as soon as earlier than on tour – on pink clay on the Madrid Masters in May 2022. Alcaraz received, spherical after beating Nadal and one spherical earlier than beating Zverev for the title there.

It is a matchup worthy of a closing, however is going on sooner than that in Paris as a result of they have been positioned on the identical half of the 128-player bracket by way of a random draw.

How about this for uncommon circumstances: Both Djokovic and Alcaraz enter on prolonged Grand Slam successful streaks. Djokovic has received 19 matches in a row at majors, which incorporates titles at Wimbledon final July and the Australian Open this January.