Carlos Alcaraz has stormed into the US Open 2025 semifinal after defeating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets 6-4 6-2 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 22-year-old Spaniard has been flawless so far, reaching his first hard-court semifinal at a major since lifting the title in New York back in 2023. However, as the tennis world anticipates the highly awaited clash with Novak Djokovic, his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has issued a strong reminder.
Ferrero emphasized that Alcaraz must avoid obsessing over facing the Serbian legend and instead stay locked in on his own performance. “We shouldn’t obsess over Novak. Carlos needs to focus on his own game and push Djokovic until the match becomes physically demanding due to his pace,” Ferrero said in an interview with Spanish media.
The coach also underlined that consistency will play a decisive role in the battle. “We have been working on consistency and it is improving. That can make the difference in such matches,” he added.
Despite Alcaraz’s strong form, Ferrero refrained from labelling him as the favorite, acknowledging Djokovic’s status as one of the greatest players of all time. “Favouritism is out of the question. Carlos is playing with confidence but Novak will bring everything to the court. It will be extremely tough,” he stated.
Historically, Alcaraz trails Djokovic 3-5 in their head-to-head record, losing both of their last encounters — the Paris Olympic gold medal match and the Australian Open quarterfinal earlier this year. Ferrero highlighted that conditions could play a role, recalling that their Melbourne meeting under the lights gave Djokovic an edge. “If this US Open semifinal is scheduled during the day, we believe the conditions will be more favorable for Carlos,” he noted.
With his eyes on a second US Open crown and fifth career Grand Slam, Alcaraz also has the opportunity to reclaim the World No. 1 ATP ranking with a victory. Meanwhile, Djokovic is aiming to secure his record 25th major title, ending a two-year wait since his last triumph in New York in 2023. The stage is set for an epic battle between two generations of tennis greatness.
