Juan Carlos Ferrero Puts Down the ‘Favorite’ Tag for Carlos Alcaraz Against Novak Djokovic in their Upcoming Blockbuster US Open Semifinal

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will meet for the second time in 2025.

Juan Carlos Ferrero Puts Down the ‘Favorite’ Tag for Carlos Alcaraz Against Novak Djokovic in their Upcoming Blockbuster US Open Semifinal

Juan Carlos Ferrero (inset), Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz (via Wimbledon)

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Juan Carlos Ferrero, the coach of Carlos Alcaraz, believes the schedule of his pupil’s US Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic could play a key role in the outcome. The Spaniard and the Serb are set to meet for the ninth time, with Djokovic holding a narrow 5-3 lead in their rivalry.

Djokovic has dominated their hard-court encounters, winning all three, and has also taken four of their last five matches overall. Alcaraz, however, has been in flawless form at Flushing Meadows this year, moving through the draw without dropping a set. His confidence is high after brushing aside every opponent so far. Carlos Ferrero told Spanish Media:

Carlos is playing spectacularly, with a lot of confidence, but I don’t dare say that he is a favorite. Novak will give everything, it will be very tough. In Australia, they played at night, and that favored Novak a little, with his flatter hitting. If we play here during the day, we think the conditions would be much better for us.

Ferrero, himself a former world No. 1, insists that Alcaraz is not automatically the favorite despite his impressive run. The 21-year-old has claimed 35 of his last 36 matches, with his only recent defeat coming to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final. Even with that record, Ferrero stresses that experience and context still matter.

Djokovic has shown signs of physical struggle during the tournament, requiring medical attention for shoulder, back, and foot issues. After defeating Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted he did not feel fresh. If he can overcome Alcaraz, it would mark his first major final in over a year and his first US Open final appearance since 2023.

Carlos Alcaraz reaches 3rd US Open semifinal

Carlos Alcaraz continued his flawless run at the US Open with a commanding quarter-final win over Jiri Lehecka. The Spaniard powered through 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, securing his spot in the semi-finals without dropping a set. It marks his deepest run at a hard-court Slam since reaching the same stage in New York in 2023. His next opponent will be four-time champion Novak Djokovic in a highly anticipated showdown.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

The straight-sets scoreline didn’t tell the full story of the match. Lehecka, who defeated Alcaraz earlier this year in Doha, pushed him into several intense rallies. The Czech produced strong resistance, but Alcaraz responded with energy and creativity. Each challenge only seemed to raise the Spaniard’s level.

Alcaraz dazzled the crowd with his variety and shot-making. He blended sharp drop volleys with fearless groundstrokes, often leaving Lehecka stranded. One of the highlights came during a grueling 21-shot rally, where Alcaraz capped the point with a back-to-the-net drop volley. His all-court brilliance ensured that momentum never slipped away.

On serve, Alcaraz was nearly untouchable, winning 38 of 45 first-serve points and never facing a break point. With 59 wins and six titles already this year, he is on pace to surpass his career-best season of 2023. The battle for the No. 1 ranking also looms large, as Alcaraz can overtake Jannik Sinner if he equals or outperforms him in New York.

Novak Djokovic gets to the US Open semifinal

Novak Djokovic faced a stern challenge from Taylor Fritz at the US Open but found a way to prevail in four sets. The Serbian, chasing a 25th Grand Slam title, won 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to keep his unbeaten record against the American intact. Fritz created 13 break chances but converted only two, a costly missed opportunity on the big stage.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

Djokovic, a four-time champion in New York, has gradually improved after a shaky start to the tournament. Despite earlier physical concerns, he showed resilience when it mattered most. His victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz, with Djokovic holding a 5-3 advantage in their rivalry. This will be their first showdown at Flushing Meadows.

Throughout the match, Djokovic displayed his trademark composure under pressure. Serving for the opening set at 5-3, he saved five break points to secure the lead. Fritz struck back late in the second set but immediately surrendered his own serve, handing Djokovic the momentum once again. The Serb then closed out the set to take firm control.

Fritz fought back in the third, capitalizing on errors and feeding off crowd support. Djokovic, clearly frustrated, even called for better control of the noisy atmosphere. But in the fourth set, Fritz faltered at the critical moment. Serving at 4-5, he double-faulted on match point, allowing Djokovic to seal victory after three hours and 24 minutes.

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