Novak Djokovic is gearing up for another Grand Slam semifinal when he takes on Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.
Djokovic is chasing a 25th Grand Slam title and his first since winning the US Open back in 2023.
A clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz will be the first since the 24-time major winner sent the Spanish sensation packing at the Australian Open back in January.
Tim Henman has predicted who he thinks will prevail between Alcaraz and Djokovic, with the tennis world eagerly anticipating the match.
Alcaraz might be happy with the US Open organisers given the early start time but Djokovic might just view this as a big opportunity.
Steve Johnson shares what he’s noticed about Novak Djokovic at the US Open
Andy Roddick has waxed lyrical about Djokovic ahead of the huge clash with Alcaraz, with a number of ex-players turned pundits very excited.
Johnson has suggested on the Nothing Major podcast that he’s spotted something about Djokovic at this tournament that might just give him the edge over Alcaraz on his occasion.
He said: “Novak is doing exactly what he needs to do to move on, but I feel like he seems like he is a little bit more agitated sometimes, with the crowd. I feel as if he honestly thinks this might be his best and last shot to win 25.
“He is just not getting any younger, so I feel like he is putting all his eggs into this basket and rightly so.
“He is going to do that at every Slam he plays going forward, but I feel this is his best chance. He played on Tuesday, so he has two days off.
“That is huge for him to have that extra day off between the quarters and the semis. I don’t know how much better physically you can get in an extra 24 hours, but if there is somebody who can do it, it’s Novak.
“So it’s his best chance, but he’s going to be playing Carlos Alcaraz, maybe playing his best tennis.
“But I like the way Novak is playing. Anyone who can play only Slams and make the semis of each one at 38 years old is pretty damn impressive and insane.
“He was the youngest man to make all four semis in 2008 and the oldest man to make all four semis in the same year in 2025.”
Djokovic vs Alcaraz head-to-head
Alcaraz has some catching up to do in more sense than one.
The 22-year-old is one player backed to win as many Grand Slam titles as Djokovic across his career, should he stay fit and healthy.
| Year | Winner | Event | Round | Score |
| 2025 | Novak Djokovic | Australian Open | QF | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2024 | Novak Djokovic | Olympics | F | 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz | Wimbledon | F | 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 |
| 2023 | Novak Djokovic | ATP Finals | SF | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 | Nova Djokovic | ATP 1000 Cincinnati | F | 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2023 | Carlos Alcaraz | Wimbledon | F | 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Novak Djokovic | French Open | SF | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2022 | Carlos Alcaraz | ATP 1000 Madrid | SF | 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 |
However, he’s also got some catching up to do when it comes to games won when he meets Djokovic, with the Serbian performer two wins ahead of the Spaniard.
Tonight’s match looks like being another classic and it remains to be seen whether Johnson is right regarding Djokovic trying extra hard to finally claim that 25th Grand Slam crown.
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