Australian Open, Djokovic stronger than ailments and Alcaraz. Nole: “The drug worked, epic victory”

Melbourne, 21 January 2025 – Revenge was in vain, Carlos Alcaraz still has a lot to learn from a sacred monster like Nole djokovic. Five months after the Olympic final, in which Nole won the only title he was missing, there was much anticipation for the confrontation between the last of the Big Three and the most credible alternative to our Jannik Sinner in the role of heirs. As a Roland Garros, also to Melbourne Djokovic finally prevailed, having overcome a difficult moment at the end of the first set and then reacted. In the end the score says 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 for Djokovic in the quarterfinals, a victory that is worth the passage to the semifinal where Zverev awaits, who in the Italian night had beaten Paul. The other semifinalists will exit from the challenges between Sonego and Shelton, at 4.30 in the morning, and between Sinner e De Minaur no earlier than 9.30am on Wednesday morning in Italy.

Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals

The match

Djokovic seemed to suffer the physical exuberance of Alcaraz in the first set, and after an excellent start he had to give up by giving up his serve in the penultimate game and then suffering a loveless serve from his opponent in the last one, showing that he is also sore leg, especially in the groin area. Between the first and second set the Serbian champion made resorting to physiotherapist care and when he returned to the court he was able to rediscover not only his physical brilliance, but also his game, wearing down the Spaniard's confidence over time and imposing himself also thanks to a rediscovered serve, which allowed him to spend less energy in prolonged substitutions.

Nole took the second set and then the third, he seemed to have run away even at the beginning of the fourth when Alcaraz also found the strength to react. At 4-3 and with the serve in hand, Djokovic showed signs of tiredness again and the Iberian got two points to even the score: cancelled, then game point won by Djokovic who falls losing the support due to tiredness, but without consequences. Alcaraz's error and 5-3 for Nole, Alcaraz takes the fourth with the serve. First match point at 40-30 for Djokovic, Alcaraz makes a mistake and the The semi-final will be between Zverev and the indomitable Serbian.

Djokovic: “The drug worked”

"I won with my two arms and my two legs, maybe a leg and a half. Great admiration for Carlos, for what he has achieved so far. I am sure that I will see him again for a long time, perhaps even too much compared to what I would like – the words of the former world number 1 –. It was truly a  epic match. Since I won I won't reveal too much about it. my problems, but what I took at a certain point started to take effect, I should have also taken another dose of the drug. If I had lost the second set I don't know if I would have continued”. Then a joke about the semifinal against Zverev: “I hope I'm fine because he's playing very well. However, we have a pact: when we play he has to make me win, especially in the Slams”.