VIDEO: Strike of the year! Alcaraz turns a lost ball to his advantage. Djokovic applauded

The men’s semifinals of the French Open brought a clash of generations. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz took on long-time reigning champion Novak Djokovic. Although the Serbian veteran was able to dominate the first set, the young Spaniard came up with a shot in the second set that immediately went viral on social media.

It has been two decades of waiting for someone other than the star trio of Djokovic-Federer-Nadal to take the tennis throne. Although a generational change is slowly taking place, the memory of the old days is still being nurtured by the Serbian veteran.

Novak Djokovic, although he has done it all, still finds the motivation to succeed against the upcoming generation. That is still 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the man who replaced the legendary trio on the throne.

The Serbian tennis player is already fighting for his third triumph at Roland Garros. There, he reached the semi-finals, where he ran into the agile Alcaraz. Most experts agree that it is the match between these men that is the highlight of the ongoing tournament.

As expected, the first set offered great tennis on the Philippe-Chatrier court, full of beautiful exchanges. Djokovic managed to take the young opponent’s serve in the third game and, as he held his own, took the first set for himself.

The Spaniard showed some nervousness in the first set, but in the second he showed some of his skill. In the third game he delivered a shot that even the experienced Djokovic had to applaud.

On Alcaraz’s serve, Djokovic played a shortened ball which the Spaniard did finish, but the Serb played the ball all the way to the back line, which seemed like a clearly lost point for the young world number one. But he didn’t give up and played the winning ball, which we can safely call “the stroke of the year”.

Unfortunately, the match was then marred by health problems for Alcaraz, who showed great heart by finishing the match. But Djokovic then took advantage of his opponent’s disadvantage and advanced clearly to the final.

Source: Eurosport 1, ATP, Twitter account – Olly