Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic squared off in the Australian Open 2025 quarterfinal, where Djokovic came out with the goods even after being visibly in pain and taking injury time. The Serb stormed back into the match after losing the first. The injury issues however stayed with the 24-time Grand Slam winner and eventually became the reason for his exit from the tournament. Djokovic took the decision to pull out in the middle of the semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev.
Following the culmination of the tournament, Djokovic has been at the end of massive criticism. Some enthusiasts claimed that he faked the injury whereas some opined that he would not have retired had he won the first set against Zverev. The after-event comments of the 10-time Australian Open winner did not help his case either. Djoker stated that he would have opted out in the quarterfinal game against Alzaraz itself had the Spanianrd taken two sets to love lead in the contest.
“If I lost the second set I didn’t know if I would continue playing,” the Serb said.
Upon noting the comments made by Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz has retorted and did not comply with the assertion of it being a failed opportunity.
"I don’t feel that it was a missed opportunity against Novak,” the top seed in Rotterdam explained.
“I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to but Novak played an unbelievable match.
“Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing. It was a pretty good match. I have tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now.”
Alcaraz has had two weeks to regroup ahead of his debut in Rotterdam but the four-time Major winner revealed that he suffered a setback when he got ill.
He continued: “I spent a few days at home after Australia, but I got a cold. I was struggling a little bit at home. I could only train for two days and then I had to rest until the cold got better.