Sinner, 24, and Alcaraz, 22, have carved the past seven Grand Slams between them, and no one has won the pro since Djokovic at the 2023 U.S. Open.
Entering the last major of the year, few can predict that Djokovic (or anyone) can prevent sinners and Alkaraz from completing another calendar.
However, the seventh seed Djokovic and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassim competed in his second Grand Slam semifinal, the only two remaining distances.
Djokovic may still have extraordinary talents, bloodlines and willingness to win, but with age he no longer has the energy he once was.
Although he always found a way to win, physical problems were evident in New York.
“It won’t get easier,” Djokovic said after defeating Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“The next few days for me, if I need to, keep my body in shape and be ready to fight Five Pan.”
