'They're just too good': Djokovic's honest admission as Sinner, Alcaraz make history

(Getty/Clive Brunskill)

Novak Djokovic has conceded that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are "just too good", as a familiar Grand Slam final meeting awaits at the US Open.

The 38-year-old Serbian showed flashes of brilliance against Alcaraz in their semi-final, but couldn't find a way past the 2022 champion in a 4-6, 6-7(4), 2-6 loss.

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Before stepping out on court, Djokovic had never tasted defeat on hard courts against the Spanish star (3-0).

"I lost three out of four Slams in semis against these guys. They're just too good," the 24-time major winner said about Alcaraz and Sinner.

"Best of five (sets) makes it very, very difficult for me to play them, particularly at the end stages of Grand Slams.

"I still wanna play the Grand Slam season next year. Let's see whether that’s gonna happen or not… but I do fancy my chances more in best of three. One-week tournaments. Master's tournaments. That could serve me better in the matchups against them."

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Alcaraz is set to face Sinner in the pair's third consecutive major final meeting, marking the first time the same two men have played each other in three straight Grand Slam finals within one season, following the Italian world No.1's 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

There was a moment of panic for Sinner fans after the completion of set two, when the 24-year-old walked off court to receive a medical timeout, but came through unscathed.

He joins Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open era to reach every Grand Slam final in a calendar year.

It was also Sinner's 300th pro-level win in 384 matches.

Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 9-5, which included a five-set win over Sinner at the 2022 US Open quarter-finals, dubbed one of the best matches in the tournament's history.

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