Novak Djokovic’s most formidable opponent at the US Open on Friday may not be Carlos Alcaraz, but his own body. The Serbian tennis icon is set to bridge a 16-year age gap as he faces Alcaraz in his fourth Grand Slam semi-final of the season, a stage where his previous three attempts have ended in defeat.
While his loss to Jannik Sinner at the French Open occured while the Serbian was fully fit, Djokovic’s Australian Open campaign was cut short by a leg injury against Alexander Zverev, and a thigh problem hampered him in a second defeat by Sinner at Wimbledon. Understandably, Djokovic sounded a note of caution ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Alcaraz, whom he previously overcame at the Australian Open despite sustaining the injury that would eventually force his withdrawal.
