Djokovic to play Alcaraz in quarterfinals at Australian Open

Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz volition clash successful a immense final-eight matchup astatine Melbourne Park.

Irrepressible 10-time champion Novak Djokovic has acceptable up a blockbuster Australian Open quarterfinal with Carlos Alcaraz aft downing Czech Jiri Lehecka.

The 37-year-old Serb, who is gunning for a grounds 25th Grand Slam title, bushed the 24th effect 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) connected Rod Laver Arena connected Sunday.

It sent him into the past 8 astatine Melbourne Park for the 15th time, a grounds helium present shares with Roger Federer and 1 up of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.

The triumph besides extended his ain all-time people to 61 for astir quarterfinal appearances astatine majors, 3 up of the Swiss great.

His reward is simply a showdown connected Tuesday with 3rd effect Carlos Alcaraz, who is already a four-time Slam victor aged 21 but has ne'er gone beyond the Australian Open quarterfinals.

The Spaniard acceptable up the clash aft Briton Jack Draper retired during their last-16 lucifer erstwhile losing 7-5, 6-1.

“Being successful a quarterfinal, I’m going to attack the lucifer the aforesaid arsenic I did successful the erstwhile matches against him, and let’s see,” said Alcaraz of Djokovic.

“When we are seeing him playing, helium seems similar he’s young again, truthful … It’s unbelievable. He’s successful a truly bully shape.”

But Alcaraz added: “I’m conscionable acceptable and I cognize what I person to bash successful quarterfinals.”

Djokovic and Alcaraz person played each different 7 times, with the Serb starring 4-3, including a triumph successful their past clash successful the Paris Olympics final.

They person crossed paths astatine Grand Slams 3 times, doubly successful the Wimbledon decider with the Spaniard winning connected some occasions.

But they person ne'er played astatine Melbourne Park, wherever Djokovic has achieved his top success.

Djokovic dominates portion Alcaraz gets an aboriginal pass

Lehecka won the lead-up Brisbane International event, wherever Djokovic mislaid successful the quarterfinals, but helium was ne'er earnestly successful the reckoning connected the large stage.

Djokovic rapidly enactment unit connected his service and achieved a interruption successful the eighth crippled of acceptable 1 erstwhile the Czech sent down a treble fault.

Another interruption connected Lehecka’s opening service acceptable the code for acceptable two, with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.

The young Czech changed tactics successful a person acceptable three, pushing Djokovic to the nett much portion picking up his serving intensity.

It went to a tiebreak wherever the Serb produced immoderate stunning shots to seal the win.

Against Draper, Alcaraz was good connected apical erstwhile the Briton pulled the pin connected a sweltering day due to the fact that of “multiple areas truly successful pain”.

The 15th effect Draper needed 5 sets to triumph his archetypal 3 Melbourne matches, rallying from down successful each of them to enactment successful the tournament, and it yet caught up with him.

“It’s not the mode I wanted to win. But obviously, I’m blessed to play different quarterfinal present successful Australia,” said Alcaraz.

“Physically, I’m feeling great. So coming into the 2nd week of a Grand Slam, it is important to consciousness good physically due to the fact that close present the matches are adjacent tougher.”

Briton Jack Draper (R) is consoled by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain arsenic helium retires successful the men’s singles 4th circular during time 8 of the 2025 Australian Open successful Melbourne connected January 19, 2025 [Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]