Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Photo credit: ROLEX
The Rod Laver Arena court was a crossroads of history.
A hobbled Novak Djokovic it seemed as if the road was about to end when he launched a shocking rally Carlos Alcaraz’ big dream and continue with his.
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The 37-year-old Serbian star overcame an apparent hamstring or groin injury to defeat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a wild marathon match to advance to the semifinals of -12th Australian Open.
It is Djokovic’s 50th major semifinal, playing for his 100th title, including a record-extending 25th Grand Slam tournament.
Alcaraz told Tennis Now last month that his main goal for 2025 was to win the AO and complete a career Grand Slam.
Djokovic has denied that dream yet, but taught the 21-year-old Spaniard a lesson in tennis toughness.
Alcaraz, who held a 55-1 record when she won the first set of a major match in this Olympic final, said afterward that the loss was a lesson in the importance of staying strong against a seemingly injured player.
“To be honest, I felt like I was in control of the game, I let him back into the game,” Alcaraz said. “I will say the biggest mistake I made today.
“In the second set I had to play better just to push him even more. Yeah, you saw that he was having trouble moving a little bit in the second set. I had to push him a little bit. until the end, and I didn’t do it after that, I think he started to feel better and play such a big level.
“But it’s clear that when Novak is at this level, it’s really difficult. I think I got my chances. It was a very close game. I think most of the points that mattered to him, were in his favor.”
The reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion showed his frustration at one point looking at coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and poking at his leg as if questioning how badly his opponent was really hurt.
In his post-match presser afterward, Alcaraz said he wasn’t blaming Djokovic for the match, but he did point to a dramatic turnaround in the 10-time AO champion’s career.
“I think everyone saw in the second set that he was struggling a little bit,” Alcaraz told reporters in Melbourne. “I don’t know if it was running ahead or running behind, but obviously he was struggling. Then in the third and fourth set, I didn’t see anything bad from him.
“So I’m not saying he put on a show. I’m just saying that I don’t know. It’s obvious and everyone saw that he struggled in the second. Then in the third and fourth he showed that he was him. It’s really good.”
In a painful scene 15 minutes after the end of the match, the former World No Andy MurrayDjokovic’s new trainer, tracked Alcaraz to the gym and paid respects to the Spaniard as he hopped on an exercise bike to cool down from the three-hour, 37-minute fight.
The four-time Grand Slam champion said he sees this loss as a lesson and is thankful for growing from it.
“I’m playing really good games,” Alcaraz said. “I mean, we’re pushing to the end, each other. I think we played good points, good rallies. It was tight in the third, fourth set. I mean, the whole match, I think.
“I’m lucky to live this experience. I’m 21 years old. From these games, I get a lot of information about how to deal with everything.
“I will not hide. I have done good things in tennis of course, but playing against one of the best in the history of our sport, this kind of matches helps me a lot in the future to be better.”
