With the score tied at four games apiece, Djokovic won the longest rally of the match (27 shots) to dig out of a 0-30 hole and put the set on course for a tiebreaker.
Alcaraz indeed served his way to a Sudden Death and nabbed the opening mini-break and shook off a brilliant play from Djokovic to capitalize on a pair of errors and lead 4-2 at the first change of ends.
Djokovic tracked an Alcaraz dropshot to claw back from a double mini-break down but Alcaraz nosed back in front, rallying the pro-Djokovic crowd towards his side. With the second set on his racquet, Alcaraz earned two set points with a 131-mile-per-hour serve; he only needed one as Djokovic erred long off the return.
With the match ticking past the two-hour mark, Djokovic suffered a nightmare service game early in the third set, throwing in two double faults to fall behind two sets and a break. Alcaraz took full advantage and consolidated with some strong serves and forehands to take a 4-1 lead.
The crowd tried in vain to lift Djokovic into a late comeback, but Alcaraz was undaunted and only got better as the match wore on, hitting through Djokovic for a love-hold that put him a game away from the final.
