"Novak Djokovic on other side alone makes you freaking nervous" - Nick Kyrgios and tennis world react to Carlos Alcaraz cramping in French Open SF

Tennis fans have shared their reactions to the much-anticipated French Open 2023 semifinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The match reached an unexpected conclusion, with the young Spaniard having to deal with a severe bout of cramping.World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz took on World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2023 French Open on Friday, June 9. The match started off in stellar fashion as both competitors challenged each other to action-packed rallies.Two-time tournament champion Djokovic clinched a solitary break and edged out in the opener 6-3. Carlos Alcaraz fought back in the second set and earned a consequential break in the 12th game to steal the set 7-5.As the tennis world got ready for what was expected to be a blockbuster thenceforward, the third came as a surprise, with Carlos Alcaraz abruptly halting the match at 1-1 due to severe cramping. The Spaniard then opted for a medical timeout at the cost of his service game.Alcaraz was a shadow of his former self thereafter and managed to claim just one more game throughout the two sets, and Novak Djokovic sealed the win 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.The tennis world was left stunned by the events that transpired and shared their reactions about Alcaraz’s unfortunate cramping. Many opined that the 2022 US Open champion’s body gave in due to the emotion-charged nature of the encounter.Nick Kyrgios expressed his sympathies to the young Spaniard and stated that he will be formidable once he learns from the experience.“Feel for Alcaraz. Just a big learning process, pretty sure every tennis player goes through this feeling. Cramping due to nervous energy and the anxiety of playing a match with this magnitude. He will learn how to deal with this in the future for sure. Then we should be scared,” the Wimbledon runner-up said.Nicholas Kyrgios@NickKyrgiosFeel for Alcaraz. Just a big learning process, pretty sure every tennis player goes through this feeling. Cramping due to nervous energy and the anxiety of playing a match with this magnitude. He will learn how to deal with this in the future for sure. Then we should be scared🫣126391315Feel for Alcaraz. Just a big learning process, pretty sure every tennis player goes through this feeling. Cramping due to nervous energy and the anxiety of playing a match with this magnitude. He will learn how to deal with this in the future for sure. Then we should be scared🫣Tennys Sandgren expressed similar views about the situation.“Never underestimate the physical toll of nerves Alcaraz had an unfamiliar amount in that first set,” he said.Tennys Sandgren@TennysSandgrenNever underestimate the physical toll of nervesAlcaraz had an unfamiliar amount in that first set1380129Never underestimate the physical toll of nervesAlcaraz had an unfamiliar amount in that first setHere are a few more reactions from the tennis world:sascha Bajin@BigSascha@BenRothenberg You know that seeing Novak on the other side of the net alone makes you freaking nervous and burn more energy. The ball doesn’t get treated the same if he hits it or someone else, specially Ina. Slam semi final.302@BenRothenberg You know that seeing Novak on the other side of the net alone makes you freaking nervous and burn more energy. The ball doesn’t get treated the same if he hits it or someone else, specially Ina. Slam semi final.Jon Wertheim@jon_wertheimHot take: the CVAC machines and hyperbaric chambers and Ironman wearables may induce eye-rolls...but Djokovic's knowledge of/precision with his body pays dividends ... #RolandGarros507Hot take: the CVAC machines and hyperbaric chambers and Ironman wearables may induce eye-rolls...but Djokovic's knowledge of/precision with his body pays dividends ... #RolandGarrosJon Wertheim@jon_wertheimThe story might be the cramps. But they dont happen in a vacuum. Credit ND for imposing his will….Whether these are “nervousness cramps” or “ dehydration cramps,” the opponent is a proximate cause either way #RolandGarros48555The story might be the cramps. But they dont happen in a vacuum. Credit ND for imposing his will….Whether these are “nervousness cramps” or “ dehydration cramps,” the opponent is a proximate cause either way #RolandGarrosRennae Stubbs 🟦👍🏼@rennaestubbsBoy oh boy. This is NOT the way we want to see this end.51Boy oh boy. This is NOT the way we want to see this end.Vansh@vanshv2kThis quickly went from being a 50-50 match to heavily in Djokovic’s favor due to Alcaraz cramps. A combo of nervous youthful energy, highly explosive aggressive movement, &amp; knee-jerk split sec reactions. Happened vs Sinner in Miami Set 3. Loss of physical conditioning.1087This quickly went from being a 50-50 match to heavily in Djokovic’s favor due to Alcaraz cramps. A combo of nervous youthful energy, highly explosive aggressive movement, &amp; knee-jerk split sec reactions. Happened vs Sinner in Miami Set 3. Loss of physical conditioning...@paraplas5The problem is that it's not only his legs. It's full body cramps. The tension and the pressure got to his body and not his mind. What a massive shame.211The problem is that it's not only his legs. It's full body cramps. The tension and the pressure got to his body and not his mind. What a massive shame.Srihari@srihariravi_12Suffering cramps at the worst stage of a Grand Slam SF against a great like Djokovic and being able to manage just one game for the rest of the match is brutal.Yet, Alcaraz was able to warmly embrace his opponent and wish him luck with a smile on his face.Mark of a champion101Suffering cramps at the worst stage of a Grand Slam SF against a great like Djokovic and being able to manage just one game for the rest of the match is brutal.Yet, Alcaraz was able to warmly embrace his opponent and wish him luck with a smile on his face.Mark of a champion https://t.co/hTCHV44UZIMatt Zemek@mzemekA very strong, very fit, very young player -- with two days off before a match -- cramps after less than 2 hours and 50 minutes of play due to a chemical cocktail of runaway nervous energy and stress.Certainly a lesson for Carlos to carry into the future. twitter.com/mzemek/status/…Matt Zemek@mzemekNerves manifest differently for different people. Hard to recall another situation akin to this in tennis history -- not the cramps themselves, but the timing and manner in which they manifested.244Nerves manifest differently for different people. Hard to recall another situation akin to this in tennis history -- not the cramps themselves, but the timing and manner in which they manifested.A very strong, very fit, very young player -- with two days off before a match -- cramps after less than 2 hours and 50 minutes of play due to a chemical cocktail of runaway nervous energy and stress.Certainly a lesson for Carlos to carry into the future. twitter.com/mzemek/status/…Mark B 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇮🇱@SternhammerWulf@TennisGoatest @NickKyrgios Nothing lucky about Djokovic’s win. You have to be physically and mentally better than your opponent. Alcaraz has been let down on the physical side. Andy Murray suffered with physical issues early in his career and had severe cramps when 2 sets up against Nalbandian at… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…1566@TennisGoatest @NickKyrgios Nothing lucky about Djokovic’s win. You have to be physically and mentally better than your opponent. Alcaraz has been let down on the physical side. Andy Murray suffered with physical issues early in his career and had severe cramps when 2 sets up against Nalbandian at… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…RadhakrishnanRK@RKRadhakrishn#Alcaraz: this boy is crazy. He's not playing #tennis. He is tennis! The cramps might do him in, but this guy is a scary talent! #FrenchOpen2023401#Alcaraz: this boy is crazy. He's not playing #tennis. He is tennis! The cramps might do him in, but this guy is a scary talent! #FrenchOpen2023Trenton Jocz@TrentonJoczThese Alcaraz cramps feel much more like getting too amped for the occasion than a physical issueIt's only the start of the 3rd set, but it's the most hyped match of the season354These Alcaraz cramps feel much more like getting too amped for the occasion than a physical issueIt's only the start of the 3rd set, but it's the most hyped match of the seasonJojo@jojogotschwifty@josemorgado Djokovic made Alcaraz run like no other in the first two sets. These cramps didn't just happen without reason...581@josemorgado Djokovic made Alcaraz run like no other in the first two sets. These cramps didn't just happen without reason...Biola Solace-Chukwu@BeeorliciousCramps can happen to anyone, at any time, no matter who they're facing.It's unfortunate it happened to Alcaraz this way.People saying Alcaraz isn't physical or athletic enough... Same Alcaraz that won three consecutive matches in five sets at the last US Open???#RolandGarros21Cramps can happen to anyone, at any time, no matter who they're facing.It's unfortunate it happened to Alcaraz this way.People saying Alcaraz isn't physical or athletic enough... Same Alcaraz that won three consecutive matches in five sets at the last US Open???#RolandGarros&quot;Congratulations to him for fighting spirit&quot; – Novak Djokovic on Carlos Alcaraz after French Open SFCarlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at the 2023 French OpenNovak Djokovic commended Carlos Alcaraz for not giving up and carrying on till the end despite dealing with cramps.“It's tough obviously for him to not know whether he should retire the match or finish the match the way he did. Congratulations to him for fighting spirit and hanging in all the way to the last point. Respect for that, great respect,” he said during the on-court interview.The 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed that he cheered the reigning US Open champion by reminding him of his young age.“I told him at the net, he knows how young he is, he's got plenty of time ahead of him,” the Serb said.Novak Djokovic said that he is confident about Carlos Alcaraz winning the French Open in the future.“He's gonna win this tournament I'm sure many, many times. He's an unbelievable player, incredible competitor, a very nice guy. So he deserves all the applause, all the support,” Djokovic said.The Serb is through to his seventh French Open final, where he will bid for his third title at the event and a historic 23rd Grand Slam title. He will take on fourth seed Casper Ruud, who beat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the semi-final, in the summit clash on Sunday, June 11.

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