Carlos Alcaraz follows Federer’s 2015 path to US Open final, beats Djokovic without dropping a set

Carlos Alcaraz secured his first hard-court victory over Novak Djokovic and punched his ticket to the US Open final on Friday, September 5. The Spaniard dominated a tense, star-studded clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 and maintaining his flawless run without dropping a set.

With the win, Alcaraz is now one victory away from claiming his second US Open title and sixth Grand Slam overall. He becomes the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to reach the US Open final without losing a set, and no male player has ever lifted the trophy while remaining unbeaten in sets at Flushing Meadows.

However, with Jannik Sinner likely to reach the final, achieving that particular feat may still be out of reach. If Sinner overcomes Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second semi, tennis fans could witness a third consecutive Grand Slam final showdown between the sport’s top two players.


The Spaniard, previously 0-3 against Djokovic on hard courts, has now won 44 of his last 46 matches, showcasing remarkable dominance.

The home crowd rallied behind Djokovic, who had won their only other 2025 meeting in four sets during the Australian Open quarterfinals. Fans leapt to their feet on his big points, with occasional “Novak!” chants echoing under the open roof. Yet Alcaraz remained focused and resolute, fending off the No. 7-seeded Serb with determination and precision.

In the second-set tiebreak, Alcaraz built a 4-1 lead, but a couple of hustle points by Djokovic narrowed the gap to one. Alcaraz then fired a 131 mph serve to set up his second set point, maintaining his unbroken streak.