Djokovic delivers masterclass to oust Alcaraz and reach his ninth ATP Finals final
The 24-time Grand Slam champion outclassed the Spaniard in straight sets to make the final in Turin, where will face Italian world No 4 Jannik Sinner in the title match
Novak Djokovic moves into the final of the 2023 ATP Finals © Antonio Calanni/AP/SIPA
Novak Djokovic put on an extraordinary exhibition of tennis brilliance to outplay Carlos Alcaraz, beating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-2 to move into his ninth ATP Finals final.
In the fifth chapter of a scintillating rivalry that had always previously produced close and captivating epics, this was the first one-sided encounter between the world’s two best players.
It is the world No 1 who progresses, where he will meet Italian home favourite Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s showpiece match, in what will be Djokovic’s 138th final at ATP level.
Superb Djokovic proves too strong for Alcaraz
Djokovic was in utterly imperious form throughout, producing some of his very finest tennis to stun the Spaniard into submission.
Alcaraz started well, his aggressive start producing two break points in the opening game. But he wasn’t able to earn the elusive break as Djokovic saved both break points to open the match with a hold of serve.
Alcaraz had been serving impeccably up until the eighth game, when his first serve deserted him. It was a poor game from the Spaniard in general, and Djokovic pounced on the opportunity, breaking Alcaraz on his second opportunity to move 5-3 up. Djokovic then duly served out the set as the first stanza suddenly and unexpectedly went up in smoke for Alcaraz.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion then broke again in the third game of the second set to seize firm control of the semi-final as Alcaraz’s camp looked on with visible concern.
A golden chance to land the knock-out blow came and went for Djokovic in the fifth game, as Alcaraz stood strong to fend off a break point and avoid falling a double-break down.
The match then ignited in an astonishing sixth game as Alcaraz came alive, winning two breathtakingly high-quality exchanges to earn himself two break points. But Djokovic came right back at him, winning a mesmerising rally on the second break point en route to holding serve.
That proved a pivotal moment in the context of both the second set and the match, as Djokovic exerted yet more return pressure on the Spaniard in the following game to earn the double break and deal Alcaraz a final fatal blow.
There were no signs of any nerves from the world No 1 as he stepped up to the baseline in the next game and clinically served out an exceptional win to knock Alcaraz out of the ATP Finals and send the Serb through to yet another final.
“Best match of the tournament for me, without a doubt,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after the match.
“After spending a lot of hours on the court in the first three matches, I didn’t know how I’m going to feel tonight.
“Obviously, maybe I wasn’t as sharp in the second and third matches. But I think tonight, from the very beginning, I felt the ball well, I was approaching the match with the right attitude, I think the right mentality.
“I knew from the very first point it was going to be high intensity.
“I really played flawless tennis.”
Humbling defeat for Alcaraz, as Djokovic eyes up yet another record
This result, particularly the one-sided nature of the defeat, is not how Alcaraz wanted to finish a wonderful 2023 campaign.
It was a humbling night for the Spaniard, and one that may take some time to fully digest.
Alcaraz signs off his year with a painful defeat, but it is has been another stunning season for the world No 2 – one in which he claimed his maiden Wimbledon crown and further underlined his credentials as the leading man in a very bright future for the sport.
As for Djokovic, he goes into his final match of the regular season with the chance to break yet another of Roger Federer‘s many records. Should he beat Sinner in Sunday’s final, he will claim his seventh ATP Finals title, moving him one clear of the record he currently shares with the Swiss.
Sinner will present a very difficult challenge for the world No 1, however.
Backed up by vociferous home support and playing the finest tennis of his young career, it will either be a milestone first for the Italian or a landmark seventh for the Serb.
A more than fitting end to a compelling ATP season.
