Alcaraz on track for semi-final showdown with Djokovic at US Open

NEW YORK :Former champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his imperious march at the U.S. Open by reaching the semi-finals on Tuesday and staying on course for a potentially high-voltage showdown with 24-times Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.

The second-seeded Spaniard produced yet another clinical display to beat Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the quarter-finals at a sunbathed Arthur Ashe Stadium and secured his spot in the last four without dropping a set this year.

In the women's draw, defending champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka received a walkover following Marketa Vondrousova's withdrawal, and she will now face American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who is chasing his first hardcourt Grand Slam title since his 2022 triumph at Flushing Meadows and sixth overall, will await the winner of the evening session encounter between Djokovic and local hope Taylor Fritz.

If Djokovic gets to the semi-final, he will arrive with a 5-3 win-loss record against Alcaraz having beaten him in their last two clashes - in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and last year's Paris Olympics final.

Alcaraz can take the world number one ranking from Jannik Sinner if he emerges triumphant in New York at the end of the fortnight, but is trying not to think about that at this stage.

"If I think about the world number one spot too much, I'm going to put pressure on myself and I don't want to do that," Alcaraz said.

"I just want to step on court, try to do my things, follow my goals and try to enjoy as much as I can."

PERFECT RUN

While his rivalry with Alcaraz is close, Djokovic has not lost a match in 10 meetings with Fritz and the Serb will try to keep his perfect run going against the American