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Diego Jiménez Rubio | 21 Jan 2025 | 14.57

Novak Djokovic beats Alcaraz at the Australian Open 2025. Photo: gettyimages

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Novak Djokovic secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open after yet another display of his historic greatness, managing to overcome the supreme challenge of defeating Carlos Alcaraz. The final result was 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 in favor of the Serbian, who will now face Alexander Zverev.

An anticipated final, one of those matches that will be remembered for a long time. Those were the expectations surrounding the quarter-final clash of the 2025 Australian Open between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, and once again, reality has surpassed all predictions. In a generational, captivating duel of styles and personalities, the scale tipped in favor of the Serbian, who delivered a masterful lesson in competitive intelligence, further solidifying his legendary status.

From the early stages of the first set, Alcaraz showed room for improvement in his game, conceding an early break and realizing that playing at a slower pace with margins wouldn't be sufficient. Novak also didn’t seem particularly dynamic in his footwork, and the conservatism of both players leveled the score. The turning point came midway through the set when a movement from the Balkan player caused discomfort in his abductor. At 4-4, he requested a medical timeout and couldn’t hold that service game due to Alcaraz's continuous pressure, who enjoyed his best moments of the match there.

Alarms were raised due to Djokovic's uncertainties in his movements, especially towards his right side. Instead of capitalizing on this, Carlos significantly lowered his leg intensity and faced a 0-3 deficit at the start of the second set. What was worse for his interests, Djokovic was very engaged in the match, finding good sensations with all his shots, hitting the ball with less spin and being highly aggressive.

- Djokovic found an inexhaustible resource by targeting Alcaraz's right side

The Spanish player's magic emerged, balancing the score and seemingly on the verge of dealing a decisive blow, flirting with a break in the ninth game. However, the Serbian averted that critical situation and subsequently gave a masterclass in returning, securing the set while seeming to play below his highest leg intensity.

All tactical facets that can sway such a monumental match came to light in the third set, with both players operating at full throttle, seeking weaknesses in their opponent. Carlos tried to change rhythms with high forehand shots when under pressure and precise drop shots when entering the court, while Novak persistently attacked, displaying absolute clarity in his returns and unleashing destabilizing parallel backhands during baseline exchanges.

Most of Alcaraz's doubts arose from his forehand, unable to control it with his usual reliability, and primarily committing many errors on returns. Djokovic found a goldmine with wide serves on the deuce side, pushing Alcaraz to move extensively and disrupting a player who lacked the necessary feel in his hands to manage that shot. Meanwhile, the Balkan's backhand performance significantly improved, and he took control of the match. There was an exchange of breaks until, in the eighth game, Djokovic secured what would ultimately be decisive.

- The Spanish player struggled to read the game at times, and the match slipped away due to details

The showdown was intense, with Djokovic nearly impenetrable. Realizing the importance of establishing a significant lead in the fourth set from the start, the Serbian came out aggressively and became an impregnable wall that repelled all of Carlos's attacks with conviction. The Spanish player was keen on playing with a lot of power but encountered the merciless response from a Djokovic who not only claimed a break advantage but also withstood the Murcian's offensives on several occasions by relying on serves to Alcaraz's right side.

As the Spanish player raised his game to a higher level, he earned a promising 15-40 lead in the eighth game, which was resolved with determination by Nole. An eternal winner's infinite focus prevented Carlos Alcaraz from finding a way to overcome a giant. Novak Djokovic rightfully progresses to the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open, aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title that would elevate him to unprecedented heights.

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