| Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: Friday, 9 June Time: From 14:00 BST |
| Coverage: Live text and radio commentary on Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the BBC Sport website and app from 13:45, followed by Casper Ruud v Alexander Zverev not before 16:30 |
From the moment the French Open draw was made almost a fortnight ago, the tennis world licked its lips at the prospect of one blockbuster match.
The countdown towards Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, against Spanish world number one Carlos Alcaraz was on.
On Friday, the two men – at opposite ends of their careers but in the same stunning form – finally go head-to-head at a Grand Slam when they meet in the Roland Garros semi-finals.
“That’s the match that a lot of people want to see,” said 36-year-old Djokovic, who is bidding for a third French Open title and a men’s record 23rd major.
Alcaraz, 20, won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in September and is contesting his maiden semi-final on the Paris clay.
“Since the draw came out, everyone was expecting that match. Myself as well. I have really wanted to play this match,” Alcaraz said.
The pair have long been considered the main contenders to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires on Sunday, even before 14-time champion Rafael Nadal withdrew with a hip injury.
Whoever wins in the last four will be favourite to beat the victor of Friday’s other semi-final between Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud and Germany’s 22nd seed Alexander Zverev.
Duel the tennis world has been waiting for
When Djokovic’s name popped out of the French Open computer in the same half of the draw as Alcaraz, there were murmurs among those sitting in the Roland Garros ceremony.
Djokovic may have won five of the past seven majors he has played, but he is seeded third in Paris after having injury issues in the build-up.
That meant he would either land in Alcaraz’s half and potentially face him in the last four, or end up on the side of second seed Daniil Medvedev and not able to face the top seed until the final.
Of course, the unpredictable nature of sport means things rarely pan out as expected in the draws.
But the fine form of Djokovic and Alcaraz – both dropping just one set so far – has ensured the blockbuster semi-final will take place.
“It’s definitely the biggest challenge for me so far in the tournament,” said…
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