Hello everybody and welcome to the MARCA in English live blog for the 2025 US Open men’s singles semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz is looking to add another crown at Flushing Meadows to his trophy cabinet, having already won six Grand Slam titles. He still has some way to go to catch the all-time leader Djokovic, who has 24 Slams to his name and would love nothing more to reach a quarter-century’s worth.
It represents their first meeting in a Major since the Australian Open earlier this year, where Djokovic prevailed in four sets. It’s also the first time these two players have met in New York – completing the set of all four Slam events in terms of where they have played.
Djokovic will be brimming with confidence and not just because he has returned to form. The 38-year-old has triumphed in four of their last five clashes, leading the overall head-to-head 5-3, and battled past Taylor Fritz in his quarter-final, winning in four sets.
But Alcaraz, sporting his bold buzz cut at the tournament this year, is building his experience with every tournament and is widely viewed as one of the toughest competitors to beat due to his athleticism and all-round excellence on the court. He brushed aside Jiri Lehecka in straight sets to advance to the semis.
The 22-year-old suffered disappointment when he was beaten in straight sets by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final in July. But returning to the scene where he captured his first Slam in 2022 will be emotional for the Murcia man.
Stars and celebrities from all over the world will be piling into Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch this unmissable match-up between two titans of tennis. Join Marca in English’s LIVE coverage to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
US Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz – Latest updates
Ferrero explains why Alcaraz is favorite heading into clash
Juan Carlos Ferrero has backed Carlos Alcaraz to end Novak Djokovic’s dreams of becoming the first tennis player to win 25 Grand Slams.
Speaking to Spanish media outlet Onda Regional, Ferrero praised Alcaraz’s form and said: “Carlos is playing spectacularly, with a lot of confidence, but I don’t dare say he is the favorite. Novak will give everything; it will be very tough.
Amid discussions about the match timing and potential advantages for Alcaraz, his coach Ferrero addressed the topic: “In Australia, they played at night, which 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.”
The question on every tennis fans’ lips about Djokovic vs Alcaraz clash
The US Open organization has scheduled the highly anticipated semifinal between Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Serbian Novak Djokovic for 15:00 in New York.
The afternoon slot has sparked widespread questions and demands from fans, who are eager to know why the blockbuster matchup wasn’t scheduled for the traditional evening time.
Many fans and analysts have speculated that the afternoon scheduling is designed to favor a potential final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
By placing Novak Djokovic in the sweltering heat, the organization may be giving the rising star an advantage, with climate conditions adding an extra challenge for the Serbian champion. Will the players be affected by the conditions?
When is the Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz?
The final is due to begin at just after 20:00 BST (21:00 EST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) as the women’s doubles final is due to take place prior to the men’s semi-final.
Where to watch the Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz?
For viewers in the UK only, Sky Sports have secured broadcasting rights for the US Open tournament. The match will be shown exclusively live on the Sky Sports Tennis channel, with any match available via Sky Sports+.
Sky Sports Tennis can be found on the linear channel number 407, while Sky Sports+ is number 410 for Sky Glass customers, 412 for Sky Q customers and 416 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
For those watching from across the Atlantic in the USA, the US Open is broadcast on ESPN’s channels in the USA and across South America, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.
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What happened the last time Alcaraz faced Djokovic?
The last encounter between Alcaraz and Djokovic came at the last Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2025, where they met in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic looked physically affected after a stretch to reach a ball. He required the assistance of the physio when he was 5-4 down in the first set, before heading off to the locker room to be treated for three minutes and returned with his thigh bandaged.
But it seemed to affect Alcaraz more. “How can it be,” Alcaraz said to himself as he accumulated unforced errors. With the crowd on his side, Djokovic took the victory.
“Every set was very close. The crowd was excited. It seemed like we were in the final of a Grand Slam. I think we both gave everything on the court. I hope people saw that,” said Djokovic.