MELBOURNE, Australia — The much-anticipated eighth clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz is upon us, marking their first encounter at the Australian Open and the first time they will meet in the quarterfinals of any tournament. All their previous matches took place in either semifinal or final rounds.
“Facing Djokovic in the quarterfinals is certainly not ideal, but it doesn’t change my approach,” Alcaraz remarked with a smile as he prepares for their match scheduled for Tuesday. “Whether it’s the quarterfinals or semifinals, I’ll approach it the same way. A final might feel different, of course, but I’m treating this just like our other encounters.”
Alcaraz arrived at this stage, his 10th career Grand Slam quarterfinal, ranking him among the most accomplished men before reaching 22 years of age. His path was cleared when Jack Draper, seeded 15th, had to retire due to a hip injury after losing the first two sets.
Djokovic, currently receiving mentorship from former rival Andy Murray in Melbourne, also advanced with determination. He secured a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory against No. 24 Jiri Lehecka on the Rod Laver Arena, albeit after putting in more effort than he might have liked.
Following his match, Djokovic opted out of the usual on-court interview, choosing instead to express gratitude to the spectators himself, saying, “Thank you for being here. Your support means a lot. I look forward to seeing you in the next round.” After acknowledging the audience, he left the court.
In his subsequent press conference, Djokovic addressed his future interactions with Australian media, stating he will refrain from speaking to Channel 9 until an apology is issued for remarks made by commentator Tony Jones. According to Djokovic, the comments were derogatory towards Serbian fans and disrespectful to him personally.
This tournament holds significant stakes for both players: the 21-year-old Alcaraz and the 37-year-old Djokovic. Djokovic reflected on facing Alcaraz, likening their matches to his famous showdowns against Rafael Nadal, highlighting the “intensity and energy” Alcaraz brings to the court. He lauded Alcaraz as a “dynamic, explosive” talent, while also noting that facing him is challenging.
Alcaraz is eager to become the youngest male player to secure a career Grand Slam, having already clinched trophies at all four major tournaments: two at Wimbledon, one each at the U.S. Open and the French Open. Djokovic, on the other hand, has his sights set on an 11th title in Melbourne and a record-breaking 25 major singles championships.
The historical rivalry shows Djokovic leading their head-to-head matchups 4-3, with a recent win in the final at the Paris Olympics earning him a gold medal for Serbia. However, Alcaraz has the edge in Grand Slam encounters, leading 2-1.
Alcaraz commented on Djokovic’s impressive achievements, saying, “It can be overwhelming to think about what he’s done—24 Grand Slams, the most weeks at No. 1—so I try not to focus on that during the match. I know my strengths and believe that if I play well, I can beat him.”
Sunday’s match officially counts as a victory for Alcaraz, marking his first against a top-20 opponent at the Australian Open. It ties him with legends Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, and Mats Wilander for the most major quarterfinal appearances before turning 22.
Alcaraz’s previous best at the Australian Open was reaching the quarterfinals last year, where he was eliminated by Alexander Zverev. The other quarterfinal match in the men’s draw features No. 2 Zverev facing No. 12 Tommy Paul.
