The eighth act of the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will have a little flavor of novelty. Firstly because it will be a first in Melbourne and on hard court in a Grand Slam. Then because this shock had never been so early in a tournament. Seven matches, for three semi-finals and four finals, always on major events (two at Wimbledon, one at the Paris Olympic Games and another in Cincinnati, in Masters 1000). This quarter-final in Melbourne almost sounds like an anomaly.
Carlos Alcaraz has won three times in seven meetings. He won their very first duel, in Madrid, in 2022 (an anthology match) then the two finals played at Wimbledon, but suffered a painful failure during their last clash, in the final of the Olympic Games. This time, their duel will mark just one stage for the winner with, potentially, a diabolical sequence with Alexander Zverev in the half and Jannik Sinner in the final.
Alcaraz, the limits of a phenomenon?
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Don't think about what it represents
However, the Murcian is convinced of it, no matter the round. He faces Djokovic and it is a monument in itself, which prevents him from seeing further or thinking about anything else. “For me, it doesn't change anything to play against Novak in the quarter, semi or final. Let's say that when it's in the final, it's a little different, the stakes aren't the same of course. But otherwise, it's the same thing. I will approach this match against Novak like the previous ones against him.”
The prerequisite, for him, is not to think about the aura of the man on the other side of the net. He will play the 7th in the world, not the champion with 24 Grand Slam titles. “I try not to think about it, admits Alcaraz. If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I can't play. I mean, 24 Grand Slams. The record number of weeks at number one. All that. He broke all the records anyway. So I definitely shouldn't think about that before a match against Novak.”
“Djokovic is on a mission as he was during the Olympic final”
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-Fortunately for him, he also has much more positive thoughts to rely on. It's not like he has 20 defeats in 20 matches against the Djoker. “I know I can play very good tennis against him, slices world number 3. I know I can beat him. I don't think about anything other than that when I face him. This is the case for all players, or at least the top players, when they play Novak. They believe in themselves.” Alcaraz believes in himself and he would be very wrong not to.
It's really in great shape, in excellent condition.
But it has not escaped his notice that the 2025 version of Djokovic once again seems as sharp as he is determined. Not that the Djoker of the previous vintage was a gift, as evidenced by their Olympic final at Roland-Garros. But in Melbourne, the Serbian appears regenerated, physically and mentally, particularly during his last two matches against the Czechs Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, against whom he was impressive in the 16th and eighth finals.
Djokovic refuses on-court interview and walks out under whistles
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“When you see him play, you feel like he's young again… It's incrediblerelieve the protection of Juan Carlos Ferrero. He is really in great shape, in excellent condition. Yes, he has immense experience, more than everyone, no one has played more Grand Slam quarter-finals than him, but I don't think that will play a role..”
And could the past of the two men here in Melbourne have any impact? This is the major tournament that Alcaraz is still missing. He has never even made it past the quarter-finals until now. Djokovic has lifted the trophy 10 times. This is his home, his territory. “It's 'his' tournament, agrees the Spaniard. But I know what I have to do to beat him. I'm happy with my level of play and I feel good physically. I have confidence in myself. In a Grand Slam, it's very important.” Essential, even.
