Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open semi-finals for the 12th time after a brilliant victory, after a comeback, over 16-year-younger Carlos Alcaraz.
The greatest tennis player in history defeated his great rival in four sets after a comeback – 4:6, 6:4, 6:3, 6:4 in three hours and 36 minutes of play, despite having a leg muscle problem early in the match and having to ask for a medical timeout. The duel ended shortly before 1 am local time.
Thirty-seven-year-old Djokovic, currently ranked seventh on the ATP list, will face Alexander Zverev on Friday in the fight for a place in the final, who earlier today defeated Tommy Paul in four sets.
Nole, let us remind you, has won ten of his total 24 Grand Slam titles in Melbourne, and at the “Rod Laver” Arena, he could also celebrate winning his 100th career trophy.
A masterclass in returning helps Djokovic seal the second set 👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/DsvSpi9uDF
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 21, 2025
Novak started the duel in front of a packed crowd excellently, broke serve in the second game, but Alcaraz quickly retaliated. An aggravating circumstance for the Serbian player was the pain in his thigh muscle that appeared in the late stages of the first set, and at the score of 5:4 for the world’s number three, he had to ask for a medical timeout and briefly go to the locker room.
Physical problems were very visible in Djokovic’s game at that moment, he served poorly, which Alcaraz took advantage of and in the next game, without losing a point, reached 6:4.
The start of the second set was a carbon copy of the first, but with a significant difference. Novak again took the opponent’s serve for 2:0, but this time he confirmed the break. However, Alcaraz managed to take Novak’s serve in the next game. Djokovic had another chance to take the Spaniard’s serve in the next game, but he didn’t realize the break point, so the Spaniard completed three games won for a 3:3 tie. Karlčitos meanwhile complained to the chief umpire and warned him to pay attention to how much time Novak was taking on his first serve.
The last game of the second set was crucial, which the greatest tennis player in history played perfectly, without error. Nole took his opponent’s serve for the third time in the match for 1-1, to the delight of numerous Serbian fans.
The third set was not the longest, but it was the most interesting with plenty of break points, especially in favor of Djokovic. Novak took his opponent’s serve twice, and how good he was on the return is confirmed by the fact that he had a break point in every of Alcaraz’s service games.
He first got the break for 4:2, the Spaniard immediately returned, but that didn’t stop Nole from taking his opponent’s serve again in the next game. Djokovic looked impressive at those moments, and the last point in the third set was particularly inspiring. Even Alcaraz couldn’t believe what had happened to him…
SPEECHLESS.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Novak Djokovic secures the third set. No words.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/ghJD0bKGfc
The Serbian tennis player also took Alcaraz’s first service game in the fourth set. When he soon saved a break point and then with a spectacular point reached 3:1, it was clear that victory could hardly slip out of his hands.
With the score 4:2, Novak had another break point to definitively break his opponent’s resistance, but the Spaniard “survived” this time… In the next game, Alcaraz had two consecutive break points to get back into the match, however, for the umpteenth time in his career, Djokovic found the right solutions in the most difficult moments and delighted the fans.
On Wednesday, in the remaining two quarterfinals, Jannik Sinner will face Aleks De Minor and Ben Shelton will face Lorenzo Sonego.
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Source: Serbian Times, Photo: Getty Images