Novak Djokovic uses his experience against Carlos Alcaraz and qualifies for the semi-finals

You should always be wary of an angry Novak Djokovic. After his victory in the round of 16, the ten-time winner of the Australian Open left “his” Rod Laver Arena, throwing a storm at the former American champion Jim Courier, who handed him the microphone for the traditional interview with after match. Pattern ? The former world number 1 did not really appreciate the inappropriate humor of a local journalist making fun of himself and his supporters: “Novak is overrated, Novak is a has-been, Novak expel him”had launched the impudent statement on the air of the official broadcaster of the tournament, alluding to his expulsion from the country in 2022 for failure to be vaccinated against Covid-19. The channel and its journalist have since made amends, but the episode undoubtedly gave the owner extra motivation.

Tuesday January 21, in the quarter-finals, Novak Djokovic once again lectured Carlos Alcaraz (4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4), four and a half months after dominating him in the final Olympic in Paris. This “clash of generations between the best player in history and the best placed to write it”as summarized a little earlier by Alexander Zverev, the Serbian’s next opponent, did not make the sparks announced since the draw for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.

A physical alert, before a “Djoker” found

On a wind-swept central court at nightfall, the Spaniard released his entry serve after gross unforced errors, without giving in to panic. He immediately catches up by firing a long line backhand which leaves his opponent on the spot. Alcaraz, all muscles bulging, brings his elder to his knees (literally) with accelerations and drop-passing sequences that hurt the 37-year-old Serbian’s legs. Djokovic’s knowledge of the game initially prevents him from taking his serve, but the Spaniard’s patience is rewarded and his arm does not tremble as he concludes this first set with a shutout and an ace (6 -4).

Manipulated by the physiotherapist on the left thigh, the Serb remobilized at the start of the second round and took advantage of Alcaraz’s second crumbly balls to break away (3-0). The world number 3 gets frustrated, but breaks his elder brother, slowed down on the court. Alcaraz draws his fatal weapon, the cushioned one, to erase a first break point, then dismisses a second on serve and comes back to 3-3. The Murcian alternates the slap and the caress in this decidedly disjointed second set. On the other side of the net, Andy Murray’s new student is not giving up; on the contrary, he toughens the game to return to a set everywhere (6-4).

On his momentum, Djokovic, more relaxed, more precise, faster, no longer plays economy and makes Juan Carlos Ferrero’s protégé crack, on a wire (4-2). Alcaraz erases the break, before collapsing again (5-3). Index behind his ear, the best receiver on the circuit returns a drop shot then a lob before firing a cross pass to lead two sets to one (6-3).

“This match was a final”

Djokovic does not ease the pressure on his opponent, without a solution. In Melbourne, where the Serb has only lost once in his last 38 matches, the weight of history weighs more than elsewhere, and Alcaraz has the bitter experience, dominated from the start of the third round. Djokovic struggles at the end of the race, saves a break point at 2-1 then relies on his serve to ward off the danger in the middle of the set and stay in front (4-2). With his back to the wall, his cadet offers himself a reprieve at the end of an exceptional rally of 33 shots. Finally released, he gains the upper hand and offers himself two opportunities to get back to 4-4. But the “Djoker” is never as concentrated as in moments of truth and definitively extinguishes his ardor (6-4).

This time, he didn’t boycott the on-court interview with Jim Courier. “I won with my two arms and one and a half legs, he replied to the American who asked him the secret of his victory, at almost 38 years old (he will celebrate it in May). I really felt like this match was a final, it was one of the most epic matches I have played on this court. When the drugs took effect, I moved better but we will have to see later. The key now will be recovery. »

The Serbian has two days ahead of him to recharge his batteries before facing the German Alexander Zverev (number 2 in the world), who got rid of the American Tommy Paul to reach his second semi-final in a row in Melbourne.

After two laborious first rounds, Djokovic is more than ever in the race to get a 25^e Grand Slam tournament. Until now co-holder of the record with the controversial Margaret Court, he intends to leave the “crazy auntie of world tennis”, as John McEnroe once called it. One last challenge to definitely be the greatest.