Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz face off in the blockbuster quarter-final contest at the Australian Open on Tuesday, keen to march on en route to potentially historic triumphs Down Under.
The Serbian superstar, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title and 100th ATP Tour title, battles his Spanish opponent, whose motivation to seal a Career Grand Slam in Melbourne has been palpable since his tournament opener.
Match preview
© Imago
Think of Djokovic's eighth match-up with Alcaraz like this: the 24-time Grand Slam and greatest player to have held a tennis racquet must beat the perceived long-term heir to his throne on the path to a possible 25th major, while his opponent must oust the 10-time Aussie Open champion Down Under if he is to secure his Career Grand Slam this year – the ultimate acid test, a seeming rite of passage.
Even at 37, the 24-time Slam champion's ruthless efficiency when he is dialled in still suffices against many on tour, underlined by victories against the leading players outside the top 20, Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka.
After below-par performances in rounds one and two, the 99-time top-level champion has been near faultless in rounds three and four, executing with efficiency on the court and staying typically forthright, highlighted by his decision to be terse in his on-court interview after dispatching Lehecka, due to taking umbrage at a Channel 9 reporter's recent perceived disrespectful remarks about him and Serbians.
While it remains to be seen how the broadcaster handles the situation, it must not distract from the 37-year-old's run to the quarters Down Under, with his progress meaning he has tied Roger Federer for reaching at least the last eight at one Major across the past 20 years, a streak that started at the 2006 French Open.
Djokovic has not been eliminated before the semis in Australia in five consecutive appearances, reaching the championship match four times before Jannik Sinner ended that streak last year in the semi-final, and Alcaraz seeks to halt that streak in the Serbian's 15th Aussie Open last-eight match and 61st overall.
© Imago
The No. 3 seed has been close to flawless in his fourth appearance at Melbourne Park, motivated to secure a Career Grand Slam at just 21, joining Andre Agassi, Federer, Rafael Nadal and the man he faces next.
Although Jack Draper was forced to retire due to a hip injury in Sunday's last-16 match – the Briton's pre-season was hampered by a similar problem – the four-time Grand Slam champion was in full flow, impressing with his court coverage and decision-making when he pulled the trigger.
While he was broken when he served for the opening set at 5-3 and took exception to the umpire's swiftness to start the shot clock, Alcaraz refocused to take the opener 7-5, highlighting the newfound mental fortitude to recover from setbacks swiftly.
The Spanish sensation is serving impressively, returning admirably and has not shied away from forcing the issue on both wings en route to consecutive quarter-final appearances at Melbourne Park.
Very few can live with the 21-year-old in this form, and his latest success was his 64th at a major in 75 matches, a tally outdone by only John McEnroe (65) in the Open Era, and he bids for a 65th at Djokovic's expense to improve his 11-3 win-loss record Down Under.
Even though Alcaraz has never advanced past the last eight in Australia, exiting disappointingly to Alexander Zverev 12 months ago, the Spaniard's high level this year stands him in good stead to make the semis, but he must come through a stern battle against Djokovic.
Tournament so far
Novak Djokovic:
First round: vs. Nishesh Basavareddy 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2
Second round: vs. Jaime Faria 6-1 6-7[4] 6-3 6-2
Third round: vs. Tomas Machac 6-1 6-4 6-4
Round of 16: vs. Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6[4]
Carlos Alcaraz:
First round: vs. Alexander Shevchenko 6-1 7-5 6-1
Second round: vs. Yoshihito Nishioka 6-0 6-1 6-4
Third round: vs. Nuno Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7[3] 6-2
Round of 16: vs. Jack Draper 7-5 6-1 ret
Head To Head
Paris Olympics (2024) - Final: Djokovic 7-6[3] 7-6[2]
Wimbledon (2024) - Final: Alcaraz 6-2 6-2 7-6[4]
ATP Finals (2023) - Semi-final: Djokovic 6-3 6-2
Cincinnati Masters (2023) - Final: Djokovic 5-7 7-6[7] 7-6[4]
Wimbledon (2023) - Final: Alcaraz 1-6 7-6[6] 6-1 3-6 6-4
French Open (2023) - Semi-final: Djokovic 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1
Djokovic leads the head-to-head with Alcaraz 4-3, notably claiming victories in three of the last four, including last year's Paris Olympics gold medal match, where the Serb's motivation to notch gold was unmistakable to edge two tiebreaks.
However, the Spaniard holds a 2-1 lead in their Slam matches, claiming back-to-back wins in the championship match at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.
While both men have had two hard-court encounters before Tuesday, including an absorbing Cincinnati final in 2023, this will be the pair's first Grand Slam encounter on the surface.
We say: Alcaraz to win in five sets
After the 10-time Aussie Open champion's slow start, Djokovic is undoubtedly dialled in, highlighted by his straight-set victories over Machac and Lehecka.
Even at 37, not many can outlast the Serbian in that form, except probably Tuesday's opponent and Sinner, suggesting that the quarter-final could go either way.
Alcaraz is equally laser-focused, keen to record a historic success Down Under, and the Spaniard is backed to edge the Serbian in five sets to improve his 12-1 win-loss record in such contests for a semi-final against Zverev or Tommy Paul.
