The stage is set for the eighth electrifying clash between tennis titans Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, marking their first encounter at the Australian Open and their inaugural quarterfinal showdown. Previous battles have unfolded in the semifinals or finals, adding a fresh layer of intrigue to this matchup.
“Facing Novak in the quarterfinals isn’t exactly ideal,” Alcaraz remarked with a grin ahead of Tuesday’s match. “But whether it’s the quarters or semis, my approach remains the same. The stakes might shift in a final, but for now, I’ll stick to the strategy that’s worked against him before, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Alcaraz secured his 14th Grand Slam quarterfinal berth, equaling the record for the most quarterfinal appearances by a male player before turning 22. His advancement came after 15th-seeded Jack Draper retired due to a hip injury, having lost the first two sets on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Djokovic, with Andy Murray coaching him in Melbourne, delivered a solid performance at Rod Laver Arena. Despite a tougher challenge, he triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) against Czech player Jiri Lehecka, the 24th seed.
Post-match, Djokovic bypassed the customary on-court interview, opting rather to address the crowd directly. ”Thank you all for being here tonight. Your support means the world. See you in the next round,” he said before exiting the court.
Later, during his press conference, Djokovic revealed he would not engage with Australian broadcaster Channel 9 until they apologized for comments made by one of their employees, Tony Jones. Djokovic accused Jones of mocking Serbian fans and making derogatory remarks about him, though he refrained from naming the commentator.
Djokovic emphasized his decision to avoid interactions with the network until the issue is resolved.
Both players have significant stakes in this tournament. Alcaraz, the 21-year-old third seed, aims to cement his legacy, while the 37-year-old seventh seed, djokovic, eyes his 11th australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles championship. Sunday’s win also tied Djokovic with Roger Federer for the most quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open, with 15 each.
Reflecting on their rivalry,djokovic likened facing Alcaraz to his intense matches against Rafael Nadal.”He’s dynamic, explosive, and incredibly talented. A joy to watch but a nightmare to play against,” Djokovic admitted.
Alcaraz is on a mission to become the youngest male player to complete the Grand Slam,having already claimed titles at Wimbledon (2023 and 2024),the US Open (2022),and the French Open (2023). Djokovic, on the other hand, seeks to further solidify his status as one of the greatest players in tennis history.
Their head-to-head record stands at 4-3 in Djokovic’s favor, including a victory in the Paris Olympics final last august, which earned him a gold medal for Serbia. However,in Grand Slam events,Alcaraz leads 2-1.
“When I think about Novak’s achievements—24 Grand Slams, the most weeks at number one—it’s almost overwhelming,” Alcaraz confessed. “But on the court, I focus on my game. I know my strengths, and if I play well, I can beat him.”
Alcaraz’s match against Draper ended with a 7-5, 6-1 lead when Draper withdrew due to injury. “It’s not how I wanted to win, but I’m happy to advance.I feel for Jack,” Alcaraz said. This victory marked his first against a top-20 opponent at the Australian Open,tying him with legends like Bjorn Borg,Boris Becker,and Mats Wilander for the most major quarterfinal appearances before age 22.
Alcaraz’s best run at Melbourne Park was last year’s quarterfinal, where he fell to Alexander Zverev. The other quarterfinal in the men’s draw will feature Zverev against Tommy Paul, setting the stage for more thrilling tennis action.
