Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz to close in on 25th Grand Slam title

MELBOURNE, Australia – Novak Djokovic refused to let his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam trophy stop in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. There is no problem with his left leg. Not a primary deficit. And not the kid across the net, Carlos Alcaraz, who was making things difficult and looking to his own history.

Djokovic overcame it all, just as he often has on the way to so many victories, reaching his 12th semi-final with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Alcaraz at Melbourne Park. A dazzling showdown between a pair of stars born 16 years apart and at opposite ends of their careers.

“I want this match today to be the final,” said Djokovic. “The most epic match I have ever played on this court. In any court.”

The action was nonstop, the shot-making superb, even as the encounter stretched over 3 1/2 hours and nearly 1 a.m. — never more so than when Alcarez saved a break point in the fourth set. . The 33-stroke exchange was the longest of the evening, and when it ended with a long forehand from Djokovic, the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena went wild. Djokovic reached for his annoying feet and yelled at his teammates; Alcaraz, chest pounding, leaned against a towel box and laughed.

It turned out that only delayed the final result.

Cheering in the stands with his wife, son and daughter — the father joked later — No. 7 seed Djokovic thanked Alcaraz for a remarkable comeback and unerring groundstrokes against Big Three rival Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for years.

“I felt like I was in control of the match, and I let him back into the match,” Alcaraz said. “When Novak is at this level, it’s really hard.”

Djokovic enjoyed some of his own best efforts in the closing stages, pointing to his ears or blowing kisses or puffing out his chest and spreading his arms. There was a forehand winner on 22-stroke point to earn a break for a 5-3 lead in the third set. There was the final point of that set, which included a back-to-the-net sprint to chase down a lob. Alcaraz wasn’t shy either, “Vamos!” He shouted. And pumping his fist after a particularly forehand in the fourth set.

After the match, Djokovic shouted towards his team’s box before hugging his coach Andy Murray. Djokovic then praised No. 3 seed Alcaraz as he left the court.

“I’m sure we’re going to see a lot of him,” Djokovic said. “Maybe not as much as I’d like.”

Djokovic will play in his 50th major semifinal against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time major runner-up who beat No. 12 Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6. 1. Djokovic said he hopes he can recover in time to face Zverev at full strength.

It was the eighth Djokovic vs. Alcaraz meeting, but the first at the Australian Open — and the first that wasn’t in the semifinals or final. Zverev called it a “clash of the generations” between two of the greatest players to ever touch a tennis racket.

Hyperbole is hard to find.

At 37, Djokovic is undoubtedly past his prime, yes, but no man has won 10 or more Grand Slam singles titles than his 24. A teenager cannot reach No. 1 in the rankings until he has won or collected major trophies on three different surfaces. his age

Alcaraz has not been shy about his hopes of completing a career Grand Slam, beating Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals – and one each from the US Open and French Open – adding victory in Australia to the two he owns since Wimbledon. Djokovic has made securing an Olympic gold medal for Serbia his priority in 2024 and success at the Paris Games last August — beating Alcaraz in the final — and is otherwise mainly concerned with the majors.

“Every time we play against others, I think a show is guaranteed,” Alcaraz said. “I’m lucky to have lived this experience.”

Djokovic has had other things on his mind lately: He was furious over on-air comments made by an Australian TV commentator and refused to speak to the host nation’s official tournament broadcaster. Djokovic apologized to the channel and its staff and said he was ready to focus on facing Alcaraz.

But at 4-all, Djokovic clutched his thigh and went down after stretching for a shot. He finished that game but lost it before taking a medical timeout. When play resumed, his left thigh was taped and Alcaraz served the set. Anyone who thought Djokovic could go into the night gently isn’t familiar with his game. He began attacking Alcaraz’s serve relentlessly and soon the second set was his. Alcaraz admitted after the match that he was distracted by Djokovic’s injury and regretted not trying to push him to the limit.

“If I lose that second set, I don’t know if I’ll continue to play,” Djokovic said, crediting the tournament doctor’s painkillers with helping him feel better.

There was an empty blue seat in the stadium, and fans repeatedly shouted between points, “Enough. Thank you,” from chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore.

When the ball was played, though, it was pretty quiet, punctuated only by the screeching of seagulls flying overhead or the screeching of sneakers or the “aaaahs” and “oohs” of enthralled ticket holders during the electrifying exchange.

Djokovic and Alcaraz showed off their skills as the temperature dropped below 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind blew at 30 mph, blowing Djokovic’s blue shirt (though not Alcaraz’s tight-fitting sleeveless number).

Both had no business tracking shots. Both went from defense to offense and conjured winners out of nowhere. Both did more, like Alcaraz’s well-disguised drop shots or Djokovic’s brilliant returns, including two winners that closed out the second set.

But Djokovic was better on this memorable night.