Carlos Alcaraz’s dreams of a first Australian Open title were dashed as Novak Djokovic secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory in the quarter-finals. The Serbian legend, nearly 38 years old, demonstrated vintage form to defeat Alcaraz with set scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and 4-6.

Djokovic’s Tactical Brilliance

Alcaraz, who had started the match confidently, clinched the opening set with a mix of aggressive baseline play and clever drop shots. However, Djokovic’s resilience and his tactics gradually turned the tide. Reflecting on his defeat, Alcaraz acknowledged, ‘I felt in control, but I let him back in. That was my biggest mistake. When Novak plays at this level, it’s incredibly tough.’

Moments of Drama and Recovery

The match was full of dramatic swings. Early in the second set, Djokovic appeared hampered by a leg issue, briefly sparking concern. Yet he rebounded swiftly, showing no signs of discomfort in the final two sets. Alcaraz commented on this, noting, ‘We all saw he was struggling at first, but he came back stronger. His shots became more aggressive, and it was hard to break through.’

STOP IT, YOU TWO 🤯

Tennis from another planet between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz! 👏@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mZ2TcJBEGl

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025

A Growing Rivalry

The quarter-final marked another chapter in the growing rivalry between the two players. Alcaraz, just 21, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete against one of the sport’s greats. ‘These matches push me to improve. I’m learning a lot, and I leave with my head held high.’

Djokovic Marches to Another Semi-final

Djokovic advances to his 12th Australian Open semi-final, where he will face Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz’s journey in Melbourne may be over this year, but his hunger for success continues as he aims to complete his Grand Slam collection.

Main image: X/@AustralianOpen