Featured Image Credit: WILLIAM WEST / Contributor via Getty
Topics: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Tennis, US Open
James Taylor
Topics: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Tennis, US Open
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was accused of mocking the veteran Novak Djokovic in a tense incident.
Alcaraz cruised through his US Open quarter-final against Jiri Lehecka in straight sets to make a third consecutive Grand Slam final. Djokovic however, was made to work harder, battling past a partisan New York crowd and Taylor Fritz to win in four sets.
The results set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. But there is a tense backdrop to this matchup following an incident earlier in the year at the Australian Open.
Back in Melbourne, Djokovic accused Alcaraz of mocking an injury that threatened to derail the Serb's Grand Slam hopes. At 4-5 down in the opening set, Djokovic required a medical time out to receive strapping on his left thigh.
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Later in the match, during a change of ends in the third set, Alcaraz theatrically limped back to his seat, before clutching his upper right thigh as he sat down.
When he stood up he repeated the same action.
Commentators John McEnroe and James Blake were quick to question Alcaraz's intentions, and suggested that he was mocking Djokovic's injury.
Ultimately, it was the Serb who got the last laugh, as he came from a set down to defeat the Spaniard to edge a four-set classic in Melbourne.
Although Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals, his body broke down just one set into his match with Alexander Zverev.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion had a muscle tear in his upper leg and was forced to retire.
Friday's clash at the US Open may be one of the last times we see the final remaining member of the big three play on a Grand Slam stage.
But Djokovic enters the match with a strong head to head record against Alcaraz.
He has won five matches, compared to Alcaraz's three, and crucially the Serb has never lost to the Spaniard on a hard court surface.
However, Alcaraz will take encouragement from his dominant display against Lehecka last night, who he defeated in less than two hours.
After the disappointment of his loss in the Wimbledon final to Sinner, he will be keen for revenge against his big rival.
But both Djokovic and Alcaraz, know they face an uphill battle to win the US Open, with Sinner likely to be the opponent and favourite for Sunday's final.