MELBOURNE, Australia — It is time for the eighth installment of the riveting, intergenerational rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. This one, although, would be the first on the Australian Open — and the primary within the quarterfinals of a event; every of the others got here in both a semifinal or last.
“Nicely, this isn’t the proper participant to play in a quarterfinal, I assume,” a grinning Alcaraz mentioned, looking forward to Tuesday’s encounter. “However dealing with Novak, for me, it isn’t going to vary something if I am taking part in him [in a] quarterfinal or semifinal. In all probability change slightly bit if it’s a last, clearly. Being in a quarterfinal, I will method the match the identical as I did within the earlier matches in opposition to him, and let’s have a look at.”
Alcaraz reached his tenth profession Grand Slam quarterfinal, tied for probably the most by a person earlier than his twenty second birthday, by advancing when Fifteenth-seeded Jack Draper stopped taking part in due to a hip harm after dropping the primary two units Sunday afternoon.
Djokovic, who’s being coached in Melbourne by outdated rival Andy Murray, did his half at night time in Rod Laver Enviornment, needing to work slightly longer however getting by means of simply the identical with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over No. 24 Jiri Lehecka.
Djokovic smacked a ball off a wall within the third set, drawing boos and whistles from some spectators. Once they made extra noise moments later, chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani admonished the parents within the stands to be extra well mannered towards the gamers.
In any other case, although, Djokovic had loads of help, from the Serbian flags within the stands to the chants of his nickname, “Nole,” that reverberated round the primary stadium.
Afterward, Djokovic allotted with the customary on-court interview, as a substitute holding the microphone himself and telling the group: “Thanks very a lot for being right here tonight. I admire your presence and the help. I will see you subsequent spherical. Thanks very a lot.” Then he walked off.
Addressing reporters later within the media room, Djokovic mentioned he needs an apology from the broadcaster of the event within the host nation, Channel 9, and its worker, Tony Jones. Jones known as Djokovic overrated and a has-been throughout an on-air look at Melbourne Park the place a crowd of the participant’s supporters have been chanting.
Djokovic mentioned that Jones “made a mockery of Serbian followers and made insulting and offensive feedback towards me.”
There’s loads at stake at this event for each No. 3 seed Alcaraz, who’s 21, and No. 7 Djokovic, who’s 37.
Alcaraz seeks to develop into the youngest man to finish a profession Grand Slam with not less than one trophy from all 4 of probably the most prestigious occasions in tennis. His 4 up to now got here elsewhere: two at Wimbledon by advantage of wins over Djokovic within the 2023 and 2024 finals, and one apiece on the US Open in 2022 and the French Open final 12 months.
Djokovic, in the meantime, is attempting to say an eleventh title in Melbourne to develop into the primary participant in tennis historical past with 25 main singles championships. He leads the general head-to-head in opposition to Alcaraz 4-3, together with a victory within the last on the Paris Olympics final August to say a gold medal for Serbia.
On the majors, although, Alcaraz leads 2-1.
“If I take into consideration every thing he has performed in tennis, I could not play. I imply, 24 Grand Slams, probably the most weeks at No. 1 — every thing. He nearly broke each file in tennis. I am attempting not to consider that after I’m within the match. I am simply attempting … to beat him,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I do know my weapons. I do know that [if] I can play good tennis in opposition to him, I can beat him.”
On Sunday, Alcaraz was forward 7-5, 6-1 when Draper determined he could not proceed. He had been coping with bodily points after successful every of his first three matches at Melbourne Park in 5 units.
“It isn’t the best way I wish to win a match, to get by means of to the subsequent spherical,” Alcaraz mentioned. “Glad to play one other quarterfinal right here in Australia, however slightly bit unhappy for Jack.”
Sunday’s match goes into the books as a victory for Alcaraz, his first in opposition to a top-20 opponent on the Australian Open. He pulled even with Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander for the very best variety of main quarterfinal appearances earlier than 22.
Alcaraz’s greatest run at Melbourne Park was attending to the quarterfinals final 12 months, earlier than shedding at that stage to Alexander Zverev. The opposite quarterfinal on the underside half of the boys’s bracket might be No. 2 Zverev in opposition to Twelfth-seeded American Tommy Paul.
Paul wanted lower than 1½ hours to complete a bodily diminished opponent, who sought assist from a coach. There was no turnaround this time for the 66th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who had gained every of his previous two matches regardless of dropping the primary two units in each.
“What he did is unreal the previous couple matches. … To do it twice in a row is wonderful,” Paul mentioned.
However Paul gained practically twice as many factors (85-43) as his Spanish rival.
Paul’s greatest displaying at any Grand Slam event was attending to the semifinals on the Australian Open in 2023. He’ll attempt to repeat that by getting previous Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors who beat No. 14 Ugo Humbert 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Related Press contributed to this report.