At Long Last We're Finally Getting Spanish Phenom Carlos Alcaraz Against Novak Djokovic In The French Open On Friday

If you're clicking this blog I hope by now you know the name Carlos Alcaraz. The 20 year old Spaniard is the definitive next great one when it comes to men's tennis. He is a marvel to watch. It honestly looks like he's playing a different sport sometimes with the speed and power he displays out there. Over the last year and a half he has taken the sport by storm and positioned himself as the man to beat. 

His breakthrough at slams came late last year when he took home the US Open title where he also became the youngest world number one in the history of the rankings. Unfortunately he picked up a hamstring injury before this year's Aussie Open which forced him to withdraw before the even got going. The 2023 French Open presented him with his next opportunity to collect another slam and oh wouldn't it be fitting, just as the King of Clay Rafa Nadal seemingly fades away from the sport. 

In last year's French, Carlos fell to Alexander Zverev in the quarters in what was a war of a match. This year he did not make the same mistake as he blitzed world no. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas to a straight sets demolition job to advance to the semis. 

Now going into this one Carlos was 4-0 h2h vs. Stefanos and a deservingly -600 favorite by the oddsmakers. With that being said, Tsitsipas had played very well to get to this point and looked locked in. Maybe he'd grab a set and hope the pressure got to the kid? 

Nope. It was murder from the jump. The announcers and crowd were both in equal amazement at what we were watching. It was legitimately unfair what Alcaraz did on Tuesday at Roland Garros to Tsitsipas for majority of the match. 

This forehand on the run is stupid. 

And another one for good measure

I'm almost certain this forehand was 400 mph

It was basically bullying from start to finish aside from the very end when Carlos let up a tad for a few games. All that meant was the crowd got to see more cool shit before Alcaraz closed it out in the 3rd set breaker. 

And what awaits? Probably the most anticipated matchup at a slam in years.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic. 

Covid laws, injuries, you name it have denied us these two clashing in a slam so far, but no longer. Their collision course meets on Friday in the semifinals of the French Open. Finally. No more bullshit, we just get to watch the two best players in the world dueling it out when it matters most. Absolute box office material here. This is all fans wanted when the draw came out. Give us these two and let everyone sit back and enjoy. We deserve this matchup. 

I don't care if you don't like the sport of tennis, you best get your eyes in front of the TV for that one. Carlos Alcaraz has the ability to make anyone like tennis. That's how exciting of a player he is on a consistent basis. Almost every game he'll make you out loud utter "how?" or "oh my god." He's a human highlight reel. And then there's Novak, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport who possesses a brick wall of defense along with the mental game any premier athlete in the world would kill for. I was expecting Carlos to be about a -140 to -170 favorite, but I'm seeing it as high as -227. If Alcaraz looks like he did today it'll be one hell of a challenge for Djokovic to overcome. Friday all the fireworks go off in the French Open final that's not actually the final. See you there. 

Here's a glimpse of what we'll get. Their only head to head matchup to date, in the semis of Madrid in 2022. If Friday is anything like this you'll regret not tuning in.