Irrepressible 10-time champion Novak Djokovic has arrange a blockbuster Australian Open quarterfinal with Carlos Alcaraz after downing Czech Jiri Lehecka.
The 37-year-old Serb, who’s gunning for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam title, beat the twenty fourth seed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Enviornment on Sunday.
It despatched him into the final eight at Melbourne Park for the fifteenth time, a document he now shares with Roger Federer and one forward of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.
The win additionally prolonged his personal all-time mark to 61 for many quarterfinal appearances at majors, three forward of the Swiss nice.
His reward is a showdown on Tuesday with third seed Carlos Alcaraz, who’s already a four-time Slam winner aged 21 however has by no means gone past the Australian Open quarterfinals.
“We had some lengthy battles, lengthy exchanges,” stated Djokovic, who stopped solely very briefly for the post-match on-court interview, his hasty retreat getting some boos from the gang.
“The type of matches that I performed in opposition to him remind me of my match-ups versus Nadal by way of the depth and the power on the court docket.
“He’s a really dynamic, explosive participant. Extremely proficient. Charismatic participant. Nice to observe – not that nice to play in opposition to,” he added with a smile.
Alcaraz, from Spain, arrange the conflict with Djokovic after Briton Jack Draper retired throughout their last-16 match when dropping 7-5, 6-1.
“Being in a quarterfinal, I’m going to method the match the identical as I did within the earlier matches in opposition to him, and let’s see,” stated Alcaraz of Djokovic.
“After we are seeing him enjoying, he looks like he’s younger once more, so … It’s unbelievable. He’s in a extremely fine condition.”
However Alcaraz added: “I’m simply prepared and I do know what I’ve to do in quarterfinals.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz have performed one another seven occasions, with the Serb main 4-3, together with a victory of their final conflict within the Paris 2024 Olympics closing.
They’ve crossed paths at Grand Slams 3 times, twice within the Wimbledon decider with the Spaniard profitable on each events.
However they’ve by no means performed at Melbourne Park, the place Djokovic has achieved his biggest success.
Djokovic dominates whereas Alcaraz will get an early go
Lehecka received the lead-up Brisbane Worldwide occasion, the place Djokovic misplaced within the quarterfinals, however he was by no means significantly within the looking on the large stage.
Djokovic shortly put strain on his serve and achieved a break within the eighth sport of set one when the Czech despatched down a double fault.
One other break on Lehecka’s opening serve set the tone for set two, with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.
The younger Czech modified ways in a more in-depth set three, pushing Djokovic to the web extra whereas selecting up his serving depth.
It went to a tiebreak the place the Serb produced some beautiful photographs to seal the win.
In opposition to Draper, Alcaraz was nicely on prime when the Briton pulled the pin on a sweltering afternoon due to “a number of areas actually in ache”.
The fifteenth seed Draper wanted 5 units to win his first three Melbourne matches, rallying from behind in all of them to remain within the match, and it lastly caught up with him.
“It’s not the way in which I wished to win. However clearly, I’m completely happy to play one other quarterfinal right here in Australia,” stated Alcaraz.
“Bodily, I’m feeling nice. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam, you will need to really feel nicely bodily as a result of proper now the matches are even harder.”
