section_path: Rivalries/Novak Djokovic
section_name: Novak Djokovic
paragraph_text: Novak Djokovic
  
  Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have faced off eight times; despite a 16-year age gap, their rivalry has remained remarkably competitive, with Alcaraz trailing 3–5.
  
  Their first meeting was at the 2022 Madrid Open semifinals, where Alcaraz prevailed in a deciding set tiebreaker, becoming the first and only man to secure back-to-back victories against Nadal and Djokovic on clay. Their next meeting came over a year later in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, a highly anticipated showdown promoted by media and the ATP itself. Djokovic won in four sets, with the match competitive until Alcaraz faltered at the start of the third set due to cramps.
  
  The duo would meet again soon after in the 2023 Wimbledon final, in which Alcaraz would defeat Djokovic in an epic five-setter that lasted 4 hours and 42 minutes, ending his hopes for the calendar Grand Slam. One month later, they fought another epic at the 2023 Cincinnati Open final, with Djokovic prevailing in three tightly contested sets after saving a championship point. The match was the longest best-of-three-sets ATP Tour final and the longest match in the tournament's history, at 3 hours and 49 minutes, and was immediately heralded as one of the best matches ever. They then played a relatively uncompetitive match at the ATP Finals, where Djokovic overpowered Alcaraz 6–3, 6–2.
  
  Djokovic and Alcaraz met twice in the summer of 2024, both in high-profile finals. On July 14, Alcaraz cruised to victory in straight sets against Djokovic in a rematch of the previous year's Wimbledon final. Three weeks later, on August 4, Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in the Olympics final on Court Philippe Chatrier. Neither player was broken on serve across two sets, with Djokovic winning both tiebreaks. Journalist Steve Flink called it "the best two-set match I have ever seen".
  
  Djokovic and Alcaraz have met once so far in 2025, in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Djokovic prevailed in four sets to retain his unbeaten record against Alcaraz on hard court and deny his hopes of achieving the Career Grand Slam.
  
  Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have faced off eight times; despite a 16-year age gap, their rivalry has remained remarkably competitive, with Alcaraz trailing 3–5.
  
  Their first meeting was at the 2022 Madrid Open semifinals, where Alcaraz prevailed in a deciding set tiebreaker, becoming the first and only man to secure back-to-back victories against Nadal and Djokovic on clay. Their next meeting came over a year later in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open, a highly anticipated showdown promoted by media and the ATP itself. Djokovic won in four sets, with the match competitive until Alcaraz faltered at the start of the third set due to cramps.
  
  The duo would meet again soon after in the 2023 Wimbledon final, in which Alcaraz would defeat Djokovic in an epic five-setter that lasted 4 hours and 42 minutes, ending his hopes for the calendar Grand Slam. One month later, they fought another epic at the 2023 Cincinnati Open final, with Djokovic prevailing in three tightly contested sets after saving a championship point. The match was the longest best-of-three-sets ATP Tour final and the longest match in the tournament's history, at 3 hours and 49 minutes, and was immediately heralded as one of the best matches ever. They then played a relatively uncompetitive match at the ATP Finals, where Djokovic overpowered Alcaraz 6–3, 6–2.
  
  Djokovic and Alcaraz met twice in the summer of 2024, both in high-profile finals. On July 14, Alcaraz cruised to victory in straight sets against Djokovic in a rematch of the previous year's Wimbledon final. Three weeks later, on August 4, Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in the Olympics final on Court Philippe Chatrier. Neither player was broken on serve across two sets, with Djokovic winning both tiebreaks. Journalist Steve Flink called it "the best two-set match I have ever seen".
  
  Djokovic and Alcaraz have met once so far in 2025, in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Djokovic prevailed in four sets to retain his unbeaten record against Alcaraz on hard court and deny his hopes of achieving the Career Grand Slam.