Stress of facing Djokovic caused cramps - Alcaraz
BBC Carlos Alcaraz was playing Novak Djokovic for the first time at a Grand Slam tournament
World number one Carlos Alcaraz says the stress of playing 22-time major champion Novak Djokovic led to the full body cramps which ruined his chances of winning their French Open semi-final.
Spain's Alcaraz, 20, started cramping early in the third set before Serbia's Djokovic, 36, won 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1.
"It is not easy to play against Novak, he's a legend of our sport," he said.
"It has been really tough for me. I have never felt tension like I did in that match."
Top seed Alcaraz was only playing Djokovic for the second time and it was their first meeting at one of the sport's four Grand Slam tournaments.
"If someone says he goes onto the court with no nerves playing against Novak, he lies," added the US Open champion.
"The tension of the match was why the cramping happened. I started the match really nervous."
Djokovic, who said he had faced the same experiences when he was younger, added: "It is part of the learning curve. It's part of the experience.
