Carlos Alcaraz leads Novak Djokovic in Australian Open QF | ATP Tour

Match Report

Alcaraz leads Djokovic in Australian Open QF blockbuster

Serbian receives medical timeout at 4-5 in first set

January 21, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has taken an early lead in his blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic on Wednesday night. The Spaniard leads the Serbian 6-4 after 54 minutes of tense action in front of an electric crowd on Rod Laver Arena.

In windy conditions, breaks were exchanged across the first three games of the match. After Djokovic capitalised on a slow start from the Spaniard to move 2-0 ahead, Alcaraz gained an important foothold when he fired a backhand winner down the line to end a 26-shot rally and break straight back.

Both players struggled to find their best level in an opening set which was impacted by the wind, while Djokovic left the court to receive a medial timeout at 4-5, with his upper left leg taped. In contrast, Alcaraz looked fresher as the set went on and the third seed hit the drop shot to great effect throughout, using it well with the wind to outmanoeuvre Djokovic and gain the early advantage. The Serbian struggled with his movement at times in the opener and he was less aggressive in the first set, striking three winners compared to 13 from Alcaraz according to Infosys Stats.

Alcaraz, 21, is aiming to become the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam, having triumphed at the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (’23’, ’24) and Roland Garros (’24). If the Spaniard can turn his early lead into victory, he will become the second player in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals at all four majors aged 21 or under, joining Djokovic, who completed the set at age 20 when he won his first major at the Australian Open in 2008.

Alcaraz trails Djokovic 3-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and is seeking his first win against the Serbian on a hard court. Djokovic won their previous two meetings on the surface in Cincinnati (’23’), a classic three-hour, 49-minute three-setter, and at the Nitto ATP Finals (’23).

The third seed has started well against Djokovic in the quest to reach his seventh major semi-final. If Alcaraz advances, he will play second-seeded German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Zverev defeated American Tommy Paul in four sets earlier on Tuesday.

Djokovic, who is being coached by Andy Murray at the first major of the season, is chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th major overall. The last time the 37-year-old failed to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne was in 2018, when he lost to the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion Hyeon Chung in the fourth round.

Djokovic dropped sets in his first two matches in Melbourne but was impressive against Czech seeds Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, dispatching both in straight sets. The No. 7 player in the PIF ATP Rankings struggled to find his top level at the majors in 2024 and is aiming for his first victory at a Slam against a Top 10 player since the US Open in 2023, when he overcame Daniil Medvedev to capture his 24th major.