Irrepressible 10-time champion Novak Djokovic has arrange a blockbuster Australian Revealed quarterfinal with Carlos Alcaraz later downing Czech Jiri Lehecka.
The 37-year-old Serb, who’s gunning for a report twenty fifth Brilliant Slam name, beat the twenty fourth seed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Rod Laver Enviornment on Sunday.
It despatched him into the final 8 at Melbourne Soil for the fifteenth moment, a report he now stocks with Roger Federer and one forward of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.
The win additionally prolonged his personal all-time mark to 61 for many quarterfinal appearances at majors, 3 forward of the Swiss superb.
His praise is a showdown on Tuesday with 3rd seed Carlos Alcaraz, who’s already a four-time Slam winner elderly 21 however hasn’t ever long past past the Australian Revealed quarterfinals.
“We had some long battles, long exchanges,” mentioned Djokovic, who banned handiest very in brief for the post-match on-court interview, his swift retreat getting some boos from the folk.
“The type of fits that I performed towards him take me back to the fact of my match-ups as opposed to Nadal in relation to the depth and the power at the lawn.
“He’s a very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented. Charismatic player. Great to watch – not that great to play against,” he added with a grin.
Alcaraz, from Spain, arrange the crash with Djokovic later Briton Jack Draper retired throughout their last-16 duel when shedding 7-5, 6-1.
“Being in a quarterfinal, I’m going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let’s see,” mentioned Alcaraz of Djokovic.
“When we are seeing him playing, he seems like he’s young again, so … It’s unbelievable. He’s in a really good shape.”
However Alcaraz added: “I’m just ready and I know what I have to do in quarterfinals.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz have performed each and every alternative seven occasions, with the Serb chief 4-3, together with a victory of their final crash within the Paris 2024 Olympics ultimate.
They’ve crossed paths at Brilliant Slams 3 times, two times within the Wimbledon decider with the Spaniard successful on each events.
However they have got by no means performed at Melbourne Soil, the place Djokovic has accomplished his largest luck.
Djokovic dominates date Alcaraz will get an early move
Lehecka received the lead-up Brisbane Global match, the place Djokovic misplaced within the quarterfinals, however he used to be by no means significantly within the reckoning at the large level.
Djokovic temporarily put force on his handover and accomplished a crack within the 8th sport of all set one when the Czech despatched indisposed a double fault.
Any other crack on Lehecka’s opening handover all set the sound for all set two, with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.
The younger Czech modified techniques in a better all set 3, pushing Djokovic to the online extra date selecting up his serving depth.
It was at a tiebreak the place the Serb produced some splendid photographs to seal the win.
Towards Draper, Alcaraz used to be smartly on govern when the Briton pulled the pin on a sweltering afternoon as a result of “multiple areas really in pain”.
The fifteenth seed Draper wanted 5 units to win his first 3 Melbourne fits, rallying from in the back of in they all to stick within the event, and it in the end stuck up with him.
“It’s not the way I wanted to win. But obviously, I’m happy to play another quarterfinal here in Australia,” mentioned Alcaraz.
“Physically, I’m feeling great. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam, it is important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher.”