MELBOURNE, Australia — Carlos Alcaraz has secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, marking the 10th time in his career he has reached this stage at a Grand Slam event. At just 21 years old, he has now tied the record for the most quarterfinal appearances by a male player before turning 22. His advance came when 15th-seeded Jack Draper was forced to retire due to injury after losing the first two sets on Sunday.

Alcaraz, seeded No. 3, was leading the match 7-5, 6-1 when Draper decided he could no longer continue. Draper had been experiencing physical struggles throughout the tournament, having previously engaged in three grueling five-set matches at Melbourne Park.

“It’s not the way I want to see a match end, advancing like this,” Alcaraz expressed. “I’m glad to be playing another quarterfinal here in Australia, although it’s a bit disappointing for Jack.” The two had originally planned to train together during the offseason, but Draper had to decline the opportunity because of his injury issues.

Looking ahead, Alcaraz is set to face either the 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic or No. 24 seed Jiri Lehecka, who were scheduled to compete against each other later on Sunday evening. “I’ll definitely be watching that match. Just not sure where yet. Right now, my focus is on recovery,” Alcaraz stated, adding that he intends to analyze possible strategies for his upcoming quarterfinal.

The match officially goes down as a victory for Alcaraz, marking his first win against a top-20 player at the Australian Open. He is aiming to secure this title for the first time in his career, which would complete his Grand Slam collection. He previously claimed titles at Wimbledon while defeating Djokovic in both the 2023 and 2024 finals, as well as one each from the U.S. Open and French Open.

At just 21 years of age, Alcaraz has matched the records of tennis legends Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, and Mats Wilander for the most Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances before reaching the age of 22. Last year, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open but was eliminated at this stage by Alexander Zverev.

“I’m pleased with the level I’m showcasing,” Alcaraz remarked. “I feel quite comfortable both on and off the court here in Australia.”