Alcaraz avenges Djokovic to end his two-season losing streak, fans in tears: The 25th Grand Slam title will never come again

Djokovic was defeated in three sets by Alcaraz, which caught many off guard and also made them acknowledge that the Serbian legend is truly getting older!

The battle between Djokovic and Alcaraz was unanimously seen as one of the most eagerly awaited men's singles showdowns this year, with the final result being highly meaningful for both athletes.

For the Serbian star, the general consensus was that this year's US Open represented his best and last chance to claim a 25th Grand Slam title. Losing to Alcaraz would make the dream of lifting that coveted trophy even more distant; for the Spaniard, with the fierce competition for world No.1 and the US Open title heating up against Sinner, a defeat here would be a huge setback.

Before the match, Alcaraz boldly declared his desire for revenge, having never beaten Djokovic in three previous hard-court encounters and suffering two consecutive losses across seasons; Djokovic also expressed his determination to stop Alcaraz and Sinner from meeting in the final, showing a strong resolve to beat Alcaraz and pursue the championship.

Because of this, pre-match predictions expected the contest to last at least four sets, with a five-set thriller fitting their level and skill. One thing was certain: whoever won would not do so easily.

Surprisingly, this clash, described as a collision of titans, ended after just 144 minutes, under three hours. Judging by Alcaraz’s 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 victory, the intensity of competition was less than expected, and the Spaniard’s win appeared relatively comfortable.

When Alcaraz broke Djokovic’s first service game early in the opening set, the live chat erupted: some believed it signaled a sweep by the Spaniard with no chance for Djokovic; others thought it was just a slow start from the Serbian star who would soon fight back.

However, as Alcaraz’s determination for revenge grew stronger, taking control from the first set and never giving Djokovic a chance, clinching the morale-boosting opener, Djokovic’s troubles were quietly mounting.

Disappointingly, Djokovic, after a dream start of 3-0 in the second set that raised hopes for a comeback and a thrilling third set showdown, was caught off guard as Alcaraz won three consecutive games to take the set in a tiebreak.

Winning two sets in a row greatly boosted Alcaraz’s confidence, and although some still believed Djokovic could turn the match around, most viewers felt the Serbian star’s dominance was over. Alcaraz certainly wouldn’t allow a comeback; moreover, Djokovic’s fatigue in the first two sets sent a sad message: the 38-year-old veteran is losing his edge.

Everyone hoped Djokovic could claim the third set to comfort himself, his fans, and the viewers! After all, as a legend who had never lost to Alcaraz on hard courts before, being swept in sets would be a tough blow to his pride.

But Alcaraz was ruthless, ending any hopes of a Djokovic comeback in the third set and crushing everyone’s expectations. He sealed the match by letting Djokovic win only two games, achieving revenge over the Serbian star, avenging his losses from last year’s Paris Olympics final and this year’s Australian Open quarterfinal, ending a two-match losing streak against Djokovic and beating him on hard court for the first time.

After the match, instead of praising Alcaraz for turning a balanced contest into a one-sided victory and lauding his strength and courage, people felt deep sympathy for Djokovic, lamenting, “The 25th Grand Slam for the old champion will never come.”

Originally, Djokovic had a favorable draw at this year’s US Open, avoiding the new hard-court king Sinner by being in the same half as Alcaraz, which was seen as a good chance to secure his 25th Grand Slam. Now, having been swept aside by the Spaniard in straight sets before the final, hoping for a strong comeback at 39 next year to reclaim his peak seems unrealistic and far-fetched.

Although the Serbian star reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams this year, a performance superior to most peers, for someone like Djokovic, the ultimate goal remains the title. Surrounded by the rising stars Sinner and Alcaraz, breaking through to win a major has become an extremely difficult task at this stage. Some say tennis is a young person’s sport, and for Djokovic to perform so well at 38 is already a miracle; there’s no need to cry for the Serbian champion because the tears of this era were bound to fall sooner or later.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)