The next chapter in what has become an iconic rivalry will soon be written, as Novak Djokovic gets set to face Carlos Alcaraz for the ninth time in the US Open semifinals.
In 2022, Djokovic and Alcaraz faced off for the first time for a place in the final of the Madrid Open.
The Spaniard was fresh off a maiden victory over his legendary compatriot, Rafael Nadal, in the last eight of the tournament, and went on to defeat the Serb to claim a second win against a member of the ‘big three’ in the same week.
A year later, the two had their first Grand Slam clash at Roland Garros, in which Djokovic emerged victorious in four sets.
With the head-to-head at the time tied at one apiece, later that summer, the then-23-time major champion suffered a defeat to Alcaraz that he said ‘p──── him off’.
Carlos Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam victory over Novak Djokovic
Djokovic met the young star in the 2023 Wimbledon final, where he was bidding to equal Margaret Court’s record for the most Grand Slam titles of any man or woman in history.
After four hours and 42 minutes of play, Alcaraz came out on top in five sets to clinch his first Wimbledon title.
In an interview with 60 Minutes the month after the defeat, Djokovic said of his conqueror at the All England Club: “He’s as a complete of a player as I have seen in ages.
When posed the idea that his defeat to Alcaraz was disappointing, but energising now that he has a young challenger to compete with, he replied: “Yes, absolutely, it was.
“That [the Wimbledon final] p──── me off so much that I needed to win everything on American soil, which I did.”
During the North American hard-court swing that followed, Djokovic beat Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final and went on to lift his 24th Grand Slam crown at the US Open.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to reinvent myself and really push harder than I ever did,” he concluded.
Novak Djokovic’s record against Carlos Alcaraz since the 2023 Wimbledon final
Since his loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon in 2023, Djokovic has enjoyed a record of four wins and just one defeat to him.
He won their bout in Cincinnati and again at the ATP Finals that season, maintaining his undefeated streak against him on hard court.
Alcaraz went back to back in South West London in 2024, overcoming Djokovic in the final again; this time in straight sets.
The legend has since responded, however, winning their gold medal clash at the Paris Olympics and their quarterfinal meeting at the Australian Open in 2025.
Now, Alcaraz and Djokovic will go toe-to-toe once again at Flushing Meadows with a place in the US Open final up for grabs.
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