January 21, 2025Reuters
by Shrivathsa Sridhar
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Serbian Novak Djokovic eliminated Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4) in the quarter-final clash of the Australian Open on Tuesday and will play a twelfth semi-final in Melbourne.
Particularly anticipated since the draw for the first Grand Slam of the season, the quarter-final between two of the favorites turned to the advantage of Novak Djokovic (37 years old). “I wanted this match to be a final,” he said on court after his victory.
He will face the German Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, who defeated the American Tommy Paul a little earlier (7-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1).
The seventh player in the world conceded the first set after calling on the physiotherapist for a physical problem.
“As I’m still in the tournament, I don’t want to reveal too much,” said the Serbian regarding the reason for this medical timeout. “Honestly, if I had lost the second set, I don’t know if I would have continued playing. But I felt better and better. »
-Novak Djokovic then rebelled, attacking his opponent on his throw-in to take the lead at the end of the third round on a spectacular point. He concluded the game on his serve from his first match point.
Following a blank 2024 Grand Slam season, for the first time since 2017, “Djoko” remains in contention for an eleventh Australian Open and, above all, a 25th Major while he currently shares the record with the Australian Margaret Smith Court.
For his part, Carlos Alcaraz (21) conceded a second consecutive loss against Novak Djokovic after that suffered in the final of the Paris Olympic Games (7-6, 7-6) last summer.
Winner of each of the three other Grand Slam tournaments, the third player in the world sees the Australian Open continue to resist him since he has never reached the last four in four appearances.
(Written by Vincent Daheron in Paris, edited by Blandine Hénault)
