Social Reaction: Carlos Alcaraz steals the show, but Novak Djokovic clinches victory as cramps mar blockbuster semifinal

WATCH: One couldn't help but smile, even Novak Djokovic, after Carlos Alcaraz pulled off this incredible shot in the second set of their Roland Garros semifinal.

In one of the most anticipated matches of the year, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz faced off against 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic for a place in the final at Roland Garros.

But after two sets of high quality tennis the match took an unexpected twist, with players and tennis fans taking to social media to fire off their reactions. As both players seemed to be breaking down physically on a hot Friday afternoon—Djokovic received treatment on his right arm, and Alcaraz struggled with full-body cramps for most of the match—it was Djokovic who eventually held firm to close out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

There was plenty of hype during the build-up to this encounter, which was circled by fans as a pre-tournament possibility when the pair landed on the same side of the Roland Garros men's draw:

Even 20-year-old Alcaraz, who was looking for a spot in his second Grand Slam final, was eager to go from the start.

Before the match, the top seed tweeted out the emoji version of his personal motto—symbolizing the three things he would need to tap into in order to defeat his semifinal opponent.

Meanwhile at Chatrier, fans were ready to witness—and in one case, create—the artistry that Alcaraz and Djokovic bring to the terre battue:

With both players locked in, the first two sets were laden with hot shots and improbable passes—including quite possibly the shot of the tournament from Alcaraz (below).

Alcaraz recovered to win the second set, and leveled the score 3-6, 7-5.

But as the intensity of the tennis continued to build, former world No. 1 and Tennis Channel contributor Andy Roddick began sounding the alarm. Minutes after posting these tweets about Alcaraz's physical condition (below), the Spanish player indeed began cramping severely at 1-1 in the third.

As Roddick famously put it, when you play in best-of-five against Djokovic... "First he takes your legs, then he takes your soul".

"At the beginning of the third set I started to cramp every part of my body, not only the legs. The arms, as well, every part of the legs," Alcaraz told press afterward.

"It was really tough for me to move at the third set, and in the fourth set let's say I had a little chance, but it was really tough."

Alcaraz received on and off-court medical treatment—costing him a game in the third set:

For some players, Alcaraz's plight was an all too familiar sight.

Nick Kyrgios—who faced Djokovic in last year's Wimbledon final—and Tennys Sandgren shared their own war stories and reflected on the monumental task of facing the 22-time Grand Slam champion in a best-of-five format.

Djokovic cruised in the next two sets, dropping only one game apiece en route to a four-set victory in three hours and 22 minutes.

Looking for his third Roland Garros title—a feat that would give him an unprecedented third career Grand Slam—Djokovic is on the verge of making history in Paris. The former No. 1, who could return to the top of the ATP rankings on Monday with a win on Sunday, is also seeking to lift a men's all-time record 23rd major trophy.

Djokovic awaits the winner of Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the final.