US Open 2025 semi-final result from Arthur Ashe Stadium as Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic in straight sets to reach Sunday’s final

Since 1978, Carlos Alcaraz (22 years 111 days) is the second-youngest player to reach Men’s Singles finals on all three surfaces at Grand Slam events in a season, older than only Bjorn Borg (22 years 84 days) in 1978.

Carlos Alcaraz breaks again and ends Novak Djokovic’s latest bid for his 25th major.

The Spanish second seed broke to 15 to seal the win in two hours and 23 minutes.

The five-time major winner as yet to drop a set and will now face either Jannik Sinner or Felix Auger-Aliassime in Sunday’s final.

Alcaraz ends a game to 30 with his seventh ace and is now surely just moments away from securing a spot in the final.

Djokovic leans on his serve to avoid the double break but it’d take something incredible for him to recover from here – even for the men’s GOAT.

The Serb unleashes a huge forehand down the line to catch Alcaraz by surprise and edge a hold to 30.

Alcaraz recovers from a double fault to open and seizes control of the game with a clinical forehand down the line.

Djokovic’s movement has dropped off a cliff and he just can’t live with Alcaraz now.

The Spaniard consolidates with the hold to 15 and looks to be firmly on course for another major final now.

Alarm bells blare for Djokovic as he double faults to cough up two break points.

A slick serve and volley just about fends off one but the Serb double faults for a second time in the game and Alcaraz is now two sets and a break to the good.

Alcaraz cannons down a fifth ace of the day to close-out a hold to 30 after Djokovic had pushed to Pulp with a forehand down the line on the run.

Djokovic keeps Carlos at arm’s length to post a hold to 30.

It’s a long way back from here but he has to remain vigilant in case Alcaraz does go a bit AWOL.

Alcaraz dances back into his left corner and adds extra zip to the inside-out forehand to force the error long.

It’s the most eye-catching point of a workman-like hold to 15 that gives him the scoreboard advantage at the start of the third.

Carlos Alcaraz seal the second-set breaker 7-4 to move within one set of the 2025 US Open final.

Djokovic was much-improved in that second set, but couldn’t come up trumps in the key moments.

The Serb takes his seat and has called for the trainer to try and work some magic on his fatigued body.

Djokovic drags himself back into the mix with some serious wheels to track down a dropper and produce a stunning, crosscourt re-drop.

Alcaraz remains unfazed and stands tall in a thrilling baseline exchange, eventually luring a tired forehand into the net from the Serb to stay in charge at 5-3.

Carlitos can’t quite find the island with a crosscourt backhand but earns set points with a massive 131 mph serve down the T.

Alcaraz stretches into a low forehand return that catches Novak out and earns an instant mini break.

Djokovic drills an inside-in forehand wide but then grins in delight when his delicious crosscourt dropper tees him up for a lob that gets him back in the breaker.

Alcaraz opts not to be flashy given his own drop-shot travails so far and unloads a barrage of big forehands to force the error and regain the ascendancy.

Djokovic goes from hero to villain with the dropper as his latest attempt barely reaches the net before Carlitos gives him a lifeline with a forehand into the net.

Alcaraz remains perfect on forays to the net as he opens with a super, forehand volley.

There’s little resistance from Novak as the second seed holds to 15 to take us into what is surely a crucial breaker from the Serb’s point of view.

It’s hands on hips for Alcaraz.

The world number two finally lands a drop shot but then clips his ensuing lob wide.

Djokovic doesn’t look back from there, somehow digging out a return from near his shoelaces and slipping it down the line to rush an error and box off a love hold.

Alcaraz channels the anger in the right way as he powers into another 40-0 lead.

Again, he lapses with a commanding lead under his belt but it’s just the one forehand blot on his copybook as Nole nets a backhand to end the game to 15.

Djokovic needs to hustle hard when Alcaraz follows up the Serb’s double fault with a raking backhand winner down the line.

The second seed presses hard in a 27-shot rally but blinks first with a backhand that clips the tape and bounces back his way.

The 24-time major winner gets to Pulp (30-30) when the Spaniard drags a forehand on the run into the net and somehow survives another drop-shot fail after being bullied beyond his baseline.

Alcaraz can’t keep a lid on his frustration as he kicks the towel box in fury at the lapse and his mood worsens when Nole lands a clutch serve and raises his arm aloft to celebrate a great escape.

Alcaraz leans back and down to his left to somehow arc a backhand pass out of the reach the Serb, who is again amongst the first to show his appreciation for the quality of the youngster.

The Spaniard misfires off either flank to make things interesting from 40-0 up but backs up a bazooka of a forehand with a swift volley to level up.

That’s a fine response from Novak as he marauds through a love hold, lashing a forehand down the line to finish.

A pair of forehand winners fire Alcaraz through a strong hold to 15 as he consolidates with a cheeky forehand slice down the line.

Djokovic thinks he’s steadied the ship with a clutch serve after volleying long for 15-30.

The Serb makes a surge forward and rushes Alcaraz with another deep volley, but the Spaniard improvises with a lightning-quick reactions to flick a forehand crosscourt pass beyond the bewildered GOAT.

It's sheer genius and proves to be key as Djoker miscues off the backhand to gift the break back.