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Novak Djokovic sure had it right after reaching the final eight at Australian Open 2025.

“I think when the draw was out, a lot of the people were looking forward to a potential matchup in the quarterfinals,” Djokovic said on Sunday after beating Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16.

He referred to a possible clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

MORE: Day 10 schedule of play

They indeed both avoided defeats to prompt a rare scenario in a Grand Slam quarterfinal – both players holding multiple majors.



Djokovic and Rafael Nadal met in the French Open quarterfinals in 2015 and 2022, but Tuesday’s night session humdinger couples Djokovic’s experience (aged 37) with the youth of Alcaraz.

To put into context Djokovic’s almost unprecedented achievements, he possesses 24 Grand Slam titles – the number being three years more than the age of Nadal’s fellow Spaniard.

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Going all the way at Melbourne Park would mean Djokovic being the first player in history to amass 25 majors, while Alcaraz would become the youngest man in history to complete his Grand Slam collection.

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First he must reach a maiden Australian Open semifinal, 12 months after losing to Alexander Zverev when the German claimed the opening two sets in a quickfire 71 minutes.

Tuesday’s winner is bound to benefit from a massive jolt in confidence, though presumably hoping to avoid a marathon with potentially two more matches to be played.

Djokovic leads their rivalry 4-3, winning the most recent affair in a thrilling two-set Olympic final on the clay at Roland Garros that left both in tears.

There was joy for Djokovic, who finally got his sought-after gold medal on likely his final attempt. Despair came for Alcaraz during a week where he also played doubles with Nadal.

Prior to that, weeks earlier in the Wimbledon final when Djokovic had just recovered from knee surgery, Alcaraz eased past the Serb despite a late hiccup.

“I'm expecting a big battle, as it's the case in most of our matches where we faced each other,” said Djokovic. “Maybe just a couple times it was quite one-sided.”

“Reminds me of my matchups versus Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court. He's very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented. Charismatic player. Great to watch. Not that great to play against,” Djokovic added with a smile.

“If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn't play. He almost broke every record in tennis.”
Carlos Alcaraz on Novak Djokovic
Nor is Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open winner.

“This is not the right player to play in a quarterfinal, I guess,” smiled Alcaraz.

But he vowed not to be weighed down by Djokovic’s aura, including at Melbourne Park.

“If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn't play,” said Alcaraz. “He almost broke every record in tennis.

“I know my weapons. I know that I'm able to play good tennis against him, I'm able to beat him. That's all I'm thinking when I'm facing him.”

Alcaraz and his new service motion have only dropped one set this fortnight.

The serve packed more of a punch in the second round against Yoshi Nishioka as a noteworthy 14 aces resulted in three sets.

He didn’t have to play three sets against US Open semifinalist Jack Draper on Sunday as the jaded Brit – the lefty battled through three straight five-setters – retired due to a hip issue.



Djokovic arrived in Melbourne with something different, too – a high-profile coach in Andy Murray.

The three-time Grand Slam champ has received much air time in the coaching box, and busy away from it with his scouting of Djokovic’s opponents.

Djokovic’s level, by his own admission, has increased after dropping sets against Next Gen American Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.

He didn’t expect to defeat Czech duo Tomas Machac and Lehecka comfortably, but that is precisely what happened.

“I think the last two matches have been a really high level,” he said. “I’m really glad to be able to beat both Machac and Lehecka in straight sets.

“That encourages me to believe I can win against any opponent really on a good day when I'm feeling my best. That's what I'm trying to focus on, my game, recovery, making sure that I'm ready for whatever awaits me on the court.”

Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa start Tuesday’s proceedings at Rod Laver Arena.

Third seed Gauff – the United Cup MVP – lost her first set of 2025 on Sunday, but recovered to beat Olympic gold medallist and returning mum, Belinda Bencic.

Their head-to-head record is similar to Djokovic and Alcaraz’s, tied at three wins apiece.

Gauff won both last year against the former No.2, coming from a set down.

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“I expect her to bring her best,” said Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner. “It's a high-stakes match. But I'm excited. I love competing. I feel like these matches will only make me better.”



A victory for Gauff and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka – who plays Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the night session – would bring a rematch of last year’s semifinal at Melbourne Park.

Former teen prodigy Pavlyuchenkova leads Sabalenka 2-1 in their matches, though the last encounter came four years ago.

The lower-ranked player in Zverev’s quarterfinal with Tommy Paul also holds the advantage in past tussles.

Paul, the AO 2023 semifinalist, has won both matches against the No.2 seeded German, the last one coming in 2022.

“I think it's been such a long time since then that both of us have grown,” said Zverev.

“He has grown tremendously since then. I have massive respect for him. He's someone I get along very, very well in the locker room and outside the courts.

“I expect a very tough battle.”

There could be a few of them on Tuesday.