Novak Djokovic Plays Mind Games With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Ahead of the US Open Semifinals

Novak Djokovic will play Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semifinals, after overcoming home favorite Taylor Fritz.

Novak Djokovic Plays Mind Games With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Ahead of the US Open Semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic (inset), Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, The Tennis Letter, Jannik Sinner HQ)

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Novak Djokovic faces an uphill task to win his 25th Grand Slam title in New York. He will play Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals and Jannik Sinner in the potential final. Sinner will be up against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other semifinal.

However, Djokovic is trying to put the pressure on his younger two rivals. At Wimbledon, the Serb claimed that he gets to the matches with Sinner and Alcaraz with half tank empty. Now, he believes that he can still overcome them despite his physical limitations. Djokovic said in an interview to SportsKlub:

When I’m in shape and able to play my best tennis, I still believe that I can beat both Alcaraz and Sinner. The most crucial thing is that I need to make a great effort, work very hard and take my body to the limit to have the opportunity to face them. It is a somewhat unfair battle because their youth and current superiority allows them to arrive in full condition, while I am already with the tank half empty. That’s biology.

Djokovic claims that he had physical issues before the semifinal matches at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. However, he believes that he can raise the level against Alcaraz despite the Spaniard being the favorite. He added:

It could be said that it benefits me to play in the semifinals with Carlos instead of Jannik, at least, that’s what the latest results suggest. In any case, in Australia and London I arrived injured at the semifinal match and now I don’t. Each game is a different story. I know Alcaraz is the favorite, he is playing at an impressive level, but I hope to raise my level. These matches are what make me continue to compete, it is exciting to have the opportunity to beat the best currently.

Djokovic statistically has looked comfortable against Alcaraz compared to Sinner. The Serb has beaten the Spaniard in his last two meetings, including this year’s Australian Open quarterfinal.

Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz: The Rivalry so far

Fans have always dreamed of fantasy matchups between players from different eras. Think of Bjorn Borg facing Pete Sampras or Roger Federer playing Stefan Edberg. Those pairings had an age gap of about 15 years. Remarkably, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are separated by 16 years, yet they have built one of the defining rivalries of modern tennis.

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Tour)

Few sports have seen such an inter-generational clash at the very top. Formula 1 had Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, 13 years apart. Boxing featured Floyd Mayweather against a young Canelo Alvarez. Tennis offered glimpses of Serena Williams against Naomi Osaka, but those meetings were rare. Djokovic and Alcaraz, by contrast, already have eight battles behind them and continue to add chapters at the highest level.

Their rivalry has stretched across some of the biggest stages. Since their first meeting in Madrid in 2022, they have faced off in two Grand Slam finals, the Paris Olympics gold medal match, and Masters 1000 showdowns.

Alcaraz announced himself by defeating Nadal and Djokovic on consecutive days in Madrid, before quickly rising to world No. 1. He went on to beat Djokovic in back-to-back Wimbledon finals, only for the Serbian to claim revenge at the 2024 Paris Games.

The reason this clash exists is Djokovic’s remarkable longevity. At 38, he is still making the last four of majors and competing with players nearly two decades younger. While Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominate the new generation, Djokovic remains a constant force, proving he can still match their speed and intensity. Friday at the US Open, he steps into another showdown with Alcaraz, showing once more that his age has not dimmed his hunger.

How can Carlos Alcaraz regain the World No.1 ranking after the US Open?

Jannik Sinner climbed to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on 10 June 2024 and has held the position ever since. At this year’s US Open, Carlos Alcaraz has the chance to overtake him and reclaim the top spot for the first time in nearly a year. Both players could leave New York as World No. 1, but Alcaraz enters the fortnight with a slight edge.

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

As soon as play begins at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz will temporarily move ahead in the live rankings. That is because Sinner must give up the 2,000 points he earned from winning last year’s title. Alcaraz collected only 50 points at the 2024 edition after an early exit, so he has little to defend. For Sinner to keep his lead, reaching at least the third round is essential.

Sinner’s recent record offers plenty of encouragement. He has reached the quarter-finals or better at every major since the 2023 US Open and has won three consecutive hard-court Grand Slams, building a 21-match winning streak at those events.

His current run of 64 weeks at No. 1 is the fourth-longest first spell at the top in ATP history. Still, Alcaraz’s Cincinnati title means the Spaniard can seize control with another strong showing in New York.

The scenario is straightforward. If Alcaraz wins the US Open, he will rise to World No. 1. If Sinner falls before the fourth round, Alcaraz needs only a modest run to move past him. The 22-year-old already knows the feeling — he first became World No. 1 at just 19 after winning the 2022 US Open, the youngest ever to do so. Now, three years later, he has the opportunity to repeat history on the same stage.

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