Djokovic’s ardour, exceptional returning and beautiful groundstrokes propel him previous Alcaraz and into Aus Open semis

Novak Djokovic shouldn’t be able to see his marketing campaign for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam title die on the Australian Open 2025. On Tuesday, the 37-year-old tennis nice defied a number of odds together with a left leg subject, an early deficit, a decided problem of Carlos Alcaraz — vying for his personal slice of historical past — to win the quarter-finals.

In an exhilarating contest that showcased the conflict between two stars separated by 16 years and at reverse levels of their careers, Djokovic triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. With the victory, he secured his twelfth semi-final look at Melbourne Park, including one other chapter to his storied legacy on Tuesday night time.

Djokovic is ‘constructed totally different’

The motion was continuous, the shot-making good, even because the match stretched on for greater than 3 1/2 hours and almost to 1 am — by no means extra so, maybe, than when Alcaraz saved a break level that might have put Djokovic forward 5-2 within the fourth set, permitting him to serve for the win. The 33-stroke alternate was the longest of the night, and when it ended with Djokovic crusing a forehand lengthy, the capability crowd at Rod Laver Enviornment went wild. Djokovic reached for his bothersome leg and yelled towards his entourage; Alcaraz, his chest heaving, leaned on a towel field and grinned.

He is constructed totally different. 😤

Novak Djokovic prevails in an exhilarating four-set quarterfinal encounter in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz! 👏@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/zRtEHAbJlA

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025

Turned out that solely delayed the ultimate end result.

Together with his spouse, son and daughter cheering within the stands, the No. 7-seeded Djokovic prevailed due to the kind of exceptional returning and no-mistakes-made groundstrokes in opposition to Alcaraz that now-retired rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal handled for years.

Djokovic loved a few of his personal greatest efforts within the latter levels, pointing to his ear or blowing kisses or spreading his arms whereas puffing out his chest. There was the forehand winner on a 22-stroke level that earned the break for a 5-3 lead within the third set. There was that set’s final level, which included a back-to-the-net dash to chase down a lob. Alcaraz wasn’t shy, both, shouting “Vamos!” and pumping his fists after one notably booming forehand within the fourth set.

On Friday, Djokovic’s fiftieth main semi-final will come in opposition to No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors who beat No. 12 Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1.

The opposite males’s quarter-finals are Wednesday: No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 8 Alex de Minaur, and No. 21 Ben Shelton in opposition to unseeded Lorenzo Sonego.

With company inputs