Serbian improves to 5-3 in Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Alcaraz
January 21, 2025
Novak Djokovic celebrates reaching a record-extending 50th major semi-final.
Peter Staples
Novak Djokovic celebrates reaching a record-extending 50th major semi-final.
By Sam Jacot
Novak Djokovic produced a statement quarter-final win in the early hours of Wednesday morning at the Australian Open, where he overcame rival Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to remind everyone he is one of the men to beat in Melbourne.
The Serbian is a 10-time Australian Open champion and has been a dominant force at the hard-court event since he lifted his first major in Melbourne Park in 2008. However, Djokovic suffered a disappointing semi-final defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in Melbourne last year and failed to win a major in a season for the first time since 2017.
Djokovic put to bed any doubts about his ability to add to his 24 major titles with a high-quality three-hour, 37-minute display against Alcaraz.
It All Adds Up
In windy conditions and in front of an electric crowd on Rod Laver Arena, the seventh seed countered an early physical issue by red-lining the ball for large periods. Djokovic received a medical timeout at 4-5 in the first set and returned with his upper left leg taped but did not let the issue get the better of him.
Under the guidance of coach Andy Murray, the Serbian responded by crushing the ball off both wings to gain the upper hand in the brutal baseline exchanges, while he hit with great depth to limit Alcaraz’s ability to use the drop shot effectively. In another epic encounter between the two, Djokovic put his body on the line to fight off any Alcaraz resistance, hitting the ground on several occasions to win lung-busting exchanges.
After sealing victory on his first match point, Djokovic let out a roar before he embraced the Spaniard. Djokovic now leads Alcaraz 5-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, while he is into a record-extending 50th major semi-final. Standing in his way of an 11th Australian Open final is Alexander Zverev after the German defeated Tommy Paul in four sets earlier on Tuesday.
“I want to say my utmost respect and admiration for Carlos, everything he stands for and what he has achieved so far in his career,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “What a terrific guy he is, and an even better competitor. Youngest ever No. 1 in the world, four Grand Slams, and I’m sure we are going to see a lot of him… Maybe not as much as I would like, but he is going to be there for sure longer than me. I just wish this match today was the final, honestly.
“It’s one of the most epic matches I have played on this court, on any court really.”
Alcaraz, 21, was aiming to become the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam, having triumphed at the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (‘23, ‘24) and Roland Garros (‘24). However, the third seed could not quite find the answers against a pumped-up Djokovic, who has now won all three of the pair’s hard-court meetings, including a three-hour, 49-minute Cincinnati final thriller in 2023.
<a href='
https://www.atptour.com/en/players/nova ... iew'>Novak Djokovic</a>/<a href='
https://www.atptour.com/en/players/andy ... view'>Andy Murray</a>
Djokovic and Murray embrace at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Photo Credit: Peter Staples
On Tuesday night in Melbourne, breaks were exchanged across the first three games of the match. After Djokovic capitalised on a slow start from the Spaniard to move 2-0 ahead, Alcaraz gained an important foothold when he fired a backhand winner down the line to end a 26-shot rally and break straight back.
Both players struggled to find their best level in an opening set which was impacted by the wind, while Djokovic left the court to receive a medial timeout at 4-5, with his upper left leg taped. In contrast, Alcaraz looked fresher as the set went on and the third seed hit the drop shot to great effect throughout, using it well with the wind to outmanoeuvre Djokovic and gain the early advantage. The Serbian struggled with his movement at times in the opener and he was less aggressive in the first set, striking three winners compared to 13 from Alcaraz according to Infosys Stats.
Djokovic responded by racing into a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set as Alcaraz’s level slightly dipped. However, the 21-year-old re-engaged to gain the break of serve back and capitalised on Djokovic overhitting on the forehand wing to level at 3-3. The Spaniard caused Djokovic issues with his guile and power, but the Serbian was more proactive at the latter stage of the set. Djokovic minimised the length of rallies, upping the aggression to gain the decisive break of the set and level the match.
“The medication started to kick in, and it helped no doubt. I had to take another dose, it sounds awful, but I had to,” Djokovic said when asked about his medical time-out. “If I lost that second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better. I managed to play a great couple of games to end the second set. I saw that Carlos was hesitant from the back of the court, and I took my chances. I started to feel and move better.
“It didn’t bother me towards the end of the match [the pain], only in that second set. When the medications start to release I will see what the reality is tomorrow morning. Right now, I will try to be in the moment and enjoy this victory.”
Djokovic continued to take large cuts of the ball off both wings to pressure Alcaraz in the third set. The Serbian struck 11 winners and committed just four unforced errors in the set, while he broke Alcaraz twice. The highlight of the set came on set point, when Djokovic won a mammoth rally, which saw both players charge from side to side inside Rod Laver Arena. The Serbian let out a roar after taking a two-sets-to-one lead before he rode momentum in the fourth set to pull further clear.
Djokovic ended with a 31-27 winner-to-unforced errors count, according to Infosys Stats. He is the third man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open aged 37 or older, joining Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer.
Djokovic dropped sets in his first two matches at this year’s event but was impressive against Czech seeds Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, dispatching both in straight sets. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings struggled to find his top level at the majors in 2024, with his victory against World No. 3 Alcaraz his first against a Top 10 player at a Slam since 2023, when he overcame Daniil Medvedev to capture his 24th major at the US Open.
