Novak Djokovic continues his quest for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, having triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling quarterfinal match that lasted three hours and 37 minutes. The Serbian champion will now face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals on Friday, benefiting from an extra day of rest, which he described as coming at the perfect time.
The quarterfinal clash against Alcaraz proved to be a grueling test for Djokovic, who struggled with an upper leg injury. He was forced to take a medical timeout towards the end of the first set after Alcaraz claimed it 6-4, putting significant pressure on the seasoned player. Despite the setback, Djokovic adjusted his strategy, opting to shorten the rallies in an effort to manage his injury.
“One of the most epic matches I’ve played on this court, any court really,” – Novak Djokovic
Djokovic's tactical shift paid off as he leveled the match with a 6-4 win in the second set, before winning the next two sets 6-3 and 6-4 to secure his place in the semifinals. Reflecting on the intense competition, he expressed a desire for the match to have been the final.
“I wish this match today was the final,” – Novak Djokovic
Alcaraz, who was aiming to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, put forth an impressive effort but fell short against the experienced Djokovic. The Spanish player is still in pursuit of his first Australian Open title, the only Grand Slam that eludes him.
As he prepares for his semifinal match against Zverev, Djokovic remains cautious about his physical condition. He acknowledged that while medication helped alleviate some pain during the match against Alcaraz, he had to manage his fitness carefully.
“But the medication started to kick in and they helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose. If I lost that second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better,” – Novak Djokovic
Looking ahead, Djokovic recognizes Zverev's strong performance throughout the tournament. He emphasized the importance of being at his best as he approaches this critical stage of the competition.
“Let’s see if it’s going to be good enough on Friday, hopefully I can come out and feel my best because Sasha (Zverev) is playing some of the best tennis he has played,” – Novak Djokovic
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