Jan 17, 2025; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates during his match against Tomas Machac of Czech Republic in the third round of the men’s singles at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic will renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Spain’s Alcaraz was leading 7-5, 6-1 when Great Britain’s Jack Draper, the No. 15 seed, was forced to retire from Sunday’s fourth-round match. Draper, who played five-setters in each of his first three matches, said he had been dealing with tendinitis in his hip.
“It’s not the way I want to win the match to get through to the next round,” said Alcaraz, 21, who is attempting to become the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam. “I’m just happy to play in another quarterfinal in Australia but a little bit sad for Jack. He’s a nice person. He doesn’t deserve to get injured.”
Draper fought back from a 5-2 deficit in the opening set to level at 5-5 before Alcaraz swept eight of the last nine games. Alcaraz finished with a decisive 38-14 edge in winners.
“I am happy with the level that I’m playing on the court,” Alcaraz said. “Off the court I’m feeling really comfortable here in Australia. I think it’s pretty good. Physically I’m feeling great so coming into the second week of a Grand Slam it’s really important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher. I’m just ready.”
Alcaraz is 3-4 against Djokovic but has won two of their three previous meetings at majors. This will be their first meeting at the Australian Open.
Djokovic advanced to the showdown with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win against No. 24 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in 2 hours, 39 minutes. Djokovic, 37, reached the quarterfinals here for the 15th time, matching Roger Federer’s men’s record.
The Serbian star finished with just 21 unforced errors, compared to 44 for Lehecka.
“I felt great,” Djokovic told Eurosport. “A couple of hiccups here and there, a loose game (after) I broke his serve in the third. After that I had chances to break him, but every time I had an opportunity to break him, he would serve big. Just very powerful and precise.”
In other fourth-round action, No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany ripped 19 aces and defeated 14th-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with No. 12 seed Tommy Paul. The American raced to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in just 87 minutes. Paul saved all three break points he faced and committed only 12 unforced errors.
–Field Level Media
