PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz succumbed to the stress of playing the 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
"The second set was really, really intense I started to cramp in my arm," the 20-year-old said of the Roland Garros semifinal. "At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs. The arms, as well every part of the legs."
Alcaraz played three five-set matches en route to the title at the US Open last year, but he wasn't up against a player named Djokovic. "Is not easy to play against Novak, a legend of our sport. If someone says that he get into the court with no nerves playing against Novak, he lies," the world No. 1 said.
1/7:Djokovic knocks World No.1 Alcaraz out of the French Open
2/7:Djokovic books final berth after defeating Alcaraz
<p>Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his match-winning point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles semi-final match of the French Open. <br /></p>Getty Images
3/7:Ruud celebrates his match-winning point against Zverev
<p>Casper Ruud of Norway celebrates his match-winning point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the men's singles semi-final match of the French Open.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
4/7:Alcaraz waves off as leaves the court
<p>Spain's Carlos Alcaraz waves as he leaves the court after being defeated by Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's singles semi-final match of the French Open.<br /><br /><br /></p>AFP
5/7:Zverev reacts after his defeat against Ruud
<p>Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts after his defeat against Casper Ruud of Norway during the men's singles semi-final match of the French Open.<br /></p>Getty Images
6/7:It’s Djokovic vs Ruud in the Finals
<p>Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will face Casper Ruud of Norway in the French Open finals on Sunday.<br /></p>AFP
7/7:Head to Head match between Djokovic and Ruud
<p>Novak Djokovic holds a formidable lead of 4-0 against Casper Ruud. Djokovic’s last victory over Ruud came at the final of the ATP Finals 2022.<br /></p>AFP"Of course playing a semifinal of a Grand Slam, you have a lot of nerves, but even more facing Novak. The next time I'm gonna face Novak, I hope to be different, but the nerves will be there."
That's the tightest the Spaniard has been in a match. "I started the match really nervous. The tension of the first and second set, it was really intense two sets," he said.
"Really good rallies, tough rallies, dropshots, sprints, rallies. It's a combination of a lot of things. The main thing, it was the tension that I had all the two first sets."
