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THE FACTS
When is Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz on and what time does it start? Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place on Saturday 7th May, 2022 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz taking place? Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place at Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain
What surface is Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz being played on? Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz will take place on an outdoor clay court
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz
What channel is Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz on in the UK? Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz will be televised live on the Amazon Prime app on Smart TVs
Where can I stream Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz live on Prime Video, while Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE LOWDOWN
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
World number one Novak Djokovic played the best match of his disjointed season on Friday with a straight-sets victory over Hubert Hurkacz. The 34-year-old owns a record 37 ATP Masters 1000 titles after winning his most recent last November in Paris, with three won here in Madrid including his last appearance in 2019 where he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. Djokovic is gearing up to defend his Roland-Garros title from last season as he aims to match record-breaking Rafael Nadal on 21 major titles.
CARLOS ALCARAZ
19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in his career one year on from his first meeting with his idol on his 18th birthday here in Madrid. The next Spanish star overcame a bad ankle injury in the second set to break Nadal twice in the third set in another tight and entertaining battle between the two. Alcaraz will set a new career-high ATP world ranking of sixth after reaching the semi-finals of the Madrid Open as he takes his rightful place at the very top of the sport now amongst Grand Slam champions and finalists.
THE PREDICTION
This should be the Madrid Open final in terms of prestige and simply mandatory viewing on Saturday afternoon as 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz takes on world number one Novak Djokovic for the first time. There have been plenty of similarities drawn between the pair’s playstyles, particularly in how Alcaraz played against Nadal at Indian Wells and here in Madrid, and it will be fascinating to see how the two fare against each other in a genuine match for the ages. Djokovic was assured against Hubert Hurkacz on Friday in a statement victory but he will have to face a partisan atmosphere for the first time in Madrid after enjoying a warm welcome here so far. Alcaraz could be carrying an injury to his ankle that may have worsened overnight and that only further muddies the waters here. The sensible thing to do is back Djokovic to win at least a set here and leave the winner up to chance. Anything else that takes place in this semi-final is evidence for further battles at the top of the game to come.