Beaming after his 2-hour, 24-minute victory over Djokovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz hinted at another surprise hairstyle if he wins the title in New York. His shaved head has been a talking point at this year's US Open. "It will be even better! If that happens, you'll be surprised," he said.
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Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic in the 2025 US Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York, USA. Photo: Reuters |
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic in the 2025 US Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York, USA. Photo: Reuters
Alcaraz has won 22 ATP Tour singles titles, including 5 Grand Slams. This US Open marks another milestone as he reached the final without dropping a set. "This is the level my team and I are aiming for. We strive for consistency in every match, throughout the tournament, and the entire season," Alcaraz emphasized. "I don't want ups and downs. I want to maintain a high level consistently. I've done that since the beginning of this tournament, and I'm proud of it. Maybe I'm maturing. I'm starting to understand myself better, knowing what I need on and off the court."
"I'm sending a message to everyone in the tennis world: this is my level. Reaching six finals in my last six tournaments isn't unusual," Alcaraz added, while also noting, "I don't think this is my limit. I can still go further."
Djokovic had previously won all their hard-court matches and always presented a tough challenge, as evidenced by his victories in their two recent encounters at the Paris Olympics and the Australian Open. No opponent, not even Jannik Sinner, had made Alcaraz more emotionally tense, and this time was no different.
"Of course, but not because of our past matches. It's because this is a semifinal, and the opponent is Novak. On the court, I was only a little nervous, although it's never easy facing him. When I think of Novak, I think of a legend, of everything he's achieved. That makes things more difficult. But I'm very happy to have beaten him for the first time on hard court and to be in the final again," Alcaraz admitted.
The Murcia native expressed great respect for the Serbian veteran, remarking that Djokovic, despite being 38 years old, has the physique of a 25-year-old. "Novak is a great person. We talk a lot, and he's always willing to help younger players," Alcaraz emphasized.
At the same time, he believes that having a career as long as Djokovic's is unimaginable, and he doesn't even want to think too far ahead. "Thank goodness that's still far off for me. Someone once told me not to think about playing tennis until I'm 35 or 38, but to focus on the next 5 years, until I'm 27. Then, think about another 5 years, not 15 or 20. I have to take it year by year, every 5-year phase. We'll see how long I can keep my body in top condition. For now, I still have many years ahead of me."
When asked who gave him that advice, Alcaraz revealed, "Oh, it was Roger Federer. Who better to give me advice than him? And I'll try to follow it."
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Alcaraz hugs Djokovic after their 2025 US Open semifinal match. Photo: AFP |
Alcaraz hugs Djokovic after their 2025 US Open semifinal match. Photo: AFP
Besides aiming for his sixth Grand Slam title, Alcaraz also has the opportunity to reclaim the world number 1 ranking in the final against Sinner on 8/9. He recalled that four years ago, at 18, he defeated the Italian player en route to winning the title and reaching the top spot for the first time.
Alcaraz shared: "It's like a recurring memory. I think Jannik has improved physically in the past two years. Now, he can maintain peak performance for two, three, even four hours, and that's a big step for him. For me, the most important thing is consistency, not letting my performance fluctuate during the match. Off the court, I realize that taking care of every little detail is crucial to playing my best tennis and getting closer to perfection."
He also revealed his preparations for the upcoming final, even though he didn't know whether his opponent would be Sinner or Felix Auger-Aliassime: "I always learn from previous matches. If it's Jannik, I'll review our recent matches to analyze what I did well and what I didn't, to prepare as best as possible. If it's Felix, I'll do the same: review the matches, learn from them, and enter the final in the best possible mindset."
Compiled by Hoang Thong
