Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic in US Open semi, advances to third straight Grand Slam final

Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 in the US Open semi-final on Friday, advancing to his third consecutive Grand Slam final and leaving Djokovic still without a 25th major.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who has now reached the final in each of his last eight events, managed the victory despite an uncharacteristic 30 unforced errors and a largely ineffective drop shot. "It wasn't the best level from me," Alcaraz said. "It was a really difficult match but it's a great feeling to be in the final of the US Open again."

Djokovic, 38, was unable to find a consistent response to Alcaraz's pace and court coverage. The straight-sets defeat halted Djokovic's progress at Flushing Meadows and extended a recent stretch in which he has struggled to convert opportunities into titles. Alcaraz converted key moments, including in a tight second set that went to a tiebreak, and seized control again in the third set to close out the match.

Alcaraz's victory sets up a final against the winner of Friday night's second semi-final between Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime. The US Open final will be played on Sunday, when Alcaraz will attempt to claim a second US Open crown and a sixth Grand Slam singles title.

The match continued a generational storyline on the men's tour: Alcaraz, 22, holds a 16-year age gap over Djokovic, who has amassed 24 major titles. Alcaraz's blend of power, movement and tactical variety has powered a run of deep results across hard courts and other surfaces, while Djokovic has faced increased scrutiny over his durability in the deepest rounds of major events this season.

Statistically, the encounter featured contrasting lines. Alcaraz's error count was higher than usual for him, but he won the decisive points and delivered the breaks that mattered. Djokovic had limited opportunities to break back and was unable to force sustained pressure on Alcaraz's serve or baseline aggression.

Alcaraz's place in a third straight major final underscores his recent consistency at the highest level. His next opponent will determine whether he can convert that form into another Grand Slam title, while Djokovic will regroup after a straight-sets defeat that keeps his pursuit of another record-breaking major on hold.