Alexander Zverev shares true thoughts on Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at US Open
Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the US Open by Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic on course for 24th grand slam
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are on “a level of their own” at the US Open, according to Alexander Zverev. Wimbledon champion Alcaraz destroyed Olympic champion Zverev 6-3 6-2 6-4 to return to the semi-finals. He will next face No.3 seed Daniil Medvedev.
And the Spaniard remains on collision course with Djokovic who faces unseeded Ben Shelton in the last four. Alcaraz and Djokovic have won the last five Major titles - and played a five-set classic at Wimbledon.
And Zverev, who revealed he suffered a hamstring strain in the second set of his semi defeat, said: “I played Novak in Cincinnati, I played Carlos here. I think they are very, very similar from the level of the game.
“There are some things that Novak does better; there are some things that Carlos does better. I think they are at a level of their own at the moment. Yeah, the other guys gotta catch up. That's as simple as that.”
Defending champion Alcaraz destroyed Zverev with his deadly mix of power and delicate drop shots. The Spaniard told the crowd in the Arthur Ashe Stadium: "I've been trying to do different shots that probably the crowd are not used to seeing in the matches. I’m trying to put on a show.”
Alcaraz now has a record of 24-1 in his past four major tournaments: After winning here 12 months ago, he missed the Australian Open with a leg injury, made it to the semi-finals of the French Open before cramping up in a loss to Novak Djokovic, and added the Wimbledon trophy by beating Djokovic in the final, before winning five more matches here to reach the semi-finals.
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On the other side of the draw to Alcaraz, Djokovic has to overcome another home favourite in Ben Shelton who is playing in just the sixth Major event of his young career as a 20-year-old.
Fans could see a repeat of the Wimbledon final between Alcaraz and Djokovic which further announced the Spanish star onto the big stage, having backed up his Flushing Meadows victory in 2022 with a first SW19 title, dethroning the Serb.
But if Zverev's claim continues to hold then the pair will likely meet once again in Sunday's final, if Alcaraz can see off Medvedev after the Russian's victory over compatriot Andrey Rublev, while Djokovic needs to overcome Shelton.