EXPLAINERWhen is the Alcaraz-Djokovic US Open semifinal and what have the players said? Al Jazeera explains.Published On 3 Sep 20253 Sep 2025Novak Djokovic‘s latest quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam tennis title has brought him back to the place where the Serbian great won his last major in 2023 – the famous blue courts of the US Open.The 38-year-old has defied his age and an often partisan crowd to overcome three American challengers, including home favourite Taylor Fritz, on his way to the semifinal, only to set a date with one of the two best players in the world: Carlos Alcaraz.As the seventh-seeded former champion renews his generational rivalry with the young Spaniard, he will need to pull out all the stops in the semifinal in order to set up a date with destiny in Sunday’s final.Here’s what you need to know about the Alcaraz vs Djokovic semifinal:When is the Alcaraz vs Djokovic US Open semifinal?The eagerly awaited clash is scheduled for Friday, September 5, and has been allocated the North American prime time slot at 7pm local time (23:00 GMT).How many times has Alcaraz beaten Djokovic?The world number two has racked up three wins against the Serbian great, who leads their head-to-head record with five wins in their eight meetings.Djokovic also has the upper hand in wins in their last five matches, having beaten the 22-year-old in the Australian Open 2025 quarterfinals and gold medal match at the Paris Olympics 2024.Alcaraz, though, has beaten the 2023 US Open winner in two Wimbledon finals – in 2023 and 2024.This will be the pair’s first meeting at the US Open.How many times has Djokovic won the US Open?The Arthur Ashe Stadium is admittedly not among Djokovic’s most favoured courts as he has won four titles in New York, compare …
