Australian Open 2025: Novak Djokovic needs to raise his game in blockbuster quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz

A rematch of the past 2 Wimbledon finals and past year’s Olympic last – 3 tennis matches with much callback worth than immoderate different successful caller representation – with the Serb, possibly for the archetypal time, the outright underdog.

After Alcaraz booked his spot successful the past 8 aboriginal connected Sunday, starring 15th effect Jack Draper 7-5, 6-1 earlier the Brit was forced to retire, the Serb dismantled Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

The straight-sets scoreline whitethorn marque the lucifer look regular but Djokovic was made to grind successful the 3rd acceptable and nutrient his champion tennis nether unit successful the tie-breaker. The Serb refused to bash the customary post-match on-court interrogation and was booed disconnected tribunal astatine his favourite hunting ground, the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic confirmed that helium would not bash immoderate post-match interviews until helium receives an apology from the Australian broadcaster and their newsreader, Tony Jones, who made “a mockery of Serbian fans and besides made insulting and violative comments toward me” during 1 of his shows.

The latest contention caused by the 24-time Major victor is successful enactment with the layers of intrigue that person enthralled fans successful Melbourne this week erstwhile his tennis has not.

Under the ticker of rival-turned-coach Andy Murray, Djokovic has improved arsenic each of his 4 matches person passed and produced precocious prime erstwhile it mattered, but is yet to beryllium tested by an hostile of precocious standing, fto unsocial 1 of the champion successful the world, and portion his tennis has not been arsenic sharp, his antics person been.

Looking for enemies

Antagonistic by quality – uncovering something, anything, to get the information going – Djokovic’s matches person been thing but flat. When a forehand doesn’t whir with the aforesaid strength oregon a service misfires, glares and words person been exchanged with hecklers, ears person been cupped to get the assemblage going, rants person been unloaded connected his box, and now, fights person been picked with authorities.

For a subordinate who started the tourney recalling the “trauma” of his detention and eviction 3 years ago, and hinting that helium whitethorn person been “poisoned” during that period, the latest disturbance should not beryllium a surprise. But helium volition request much than words and gestures to get him implicit the enactment successful the adjacent encounter.

Still 21 but already 1 of the world’s champion players, Alcaraz kicked disconnected 2025 with betterment connected his caput – peculiarly connected his serve, which has reaped affluent dividends this week – but besides successful his focus, to debar the lulls that seeped into his crippled a spot excessively often past year.

In Melbourne, determination has been nary of that. He has taken attraction of concern with minimum fuss connected tribunal and without letting his level driblet excessively often, astir flying nether the radar – helium is yet to play successful the prime-time evening slot astatine Rod Laver Arena. Regardless, the precocious points of his crippled are resembling the heights helium reached during the past 2 summers – erstwhile helium picked up 2 Wimbledon trophies and a French Open title.

Still yet to spell past the past 8 successful Melbourne, Alcaraz is seeking the vocation Grand Slam, and portion helium whitethorn person counted himself unlucky to beryllium up against the top subordinate successful this tournament’s past arsenic aboriginal arsenic the quarterfinals, the confidence, with bully reason, is showing.

“I cognize my weapons. I cognize that (if) I’m capable to play bully tennis against him, I’m capable to bushed him,” Alcaraz said connected Sunday, per AP.

Past grouse, a tiff with the broadcaster, oregon a enactment with a heckler whitethorn each beryllium adding substance to his fire, but Djokovic volition request his racquet to bash the talking travel Tuesday.