Novak Djokovic showed his unwavering resolve as he battled through a series of challenges to advance to the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open. Despite facing a troublesome left leg, an early deficit, and a fierce opponent in Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic secured a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory, moving one step closer to a historic 25th Grand Slam title.
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz: A clash of generations
This quarterfinal match at Melbourne Park featured a thrilling encounter between two of tennis' brightest stars: Novak Djokovic, 37, and Carlos Alcaraz, just 16 years his junior. From the very beginning, Alcaraz proved to be a tough adversary, testing Djokovic’s endurance and skill. However, Djokovic’s experience and mental fortitude ultimately made the difference as the match stretched well beyond three and a half hours.
The first set saw Alcaraz take an early lead, capitalizing on Djokovic’s movement limitations due to his leg issue. Yet, Djokovic quickly found his rhythm, bouncing back to level the match in the second set with a 6-4 win. From there, his clinical shot-making and precision came to the fore, especially in the latter stages, as he powered through the third and fourth sets to seal victory.
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz: Key moments of the match
One of the most pivotal moments came late in the fourth set when Alcaraz saved a break point that would have given Djokovic a 5-2 lead. The subsequent 33-stroke rally, the longest of the match, ended with Djokovic making an uncharacteristic error, which electrified the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. Despite this, Djokovic’s experience saw him through, and he maintained his focus to secure the win.
As the match wore on, Djokovic’s confidence grew. With his family watching in the stands, he delivered several standout performances, including a stunning forehand winner in the third set and an incredible sprint to retrieve a lob in the same set. His remarkable return and consistent groundstrokes were reminiscent of the best performances from his longtime rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic’s victory sets up a semifinal clash on 24th January, Friday against second-seeded Alexander Zverev. Zverev, a two-time major runner-up, advanced with a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1 win over Tommy Paul. Djokovic’s win is another step towards achieving history, and the tennis world will be eagerly watching his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title.
In other quarterfinal action, the top-ranked Jannik Sinner faces Alex de Minaur, and Ben Shelton will take on Lorenzo Sonego on 22nd January, Wednesday's matches.