Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals at the 2025 Australian Open playing only two sets, as Britain's Jack Draper was forced to retire before the start of the third set due to injury. The former world No.1 was not playing his best tennis, but he still won the first two sets and is gradually raising his level.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion will face Novak Djokovic in the next round, in one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. The current world number 3 cannot underestimate a player who has won this tournament ten times and who knows all the secrets of the Rod Laver Arena.
The 21-year-old from Murcia knows how to beat Nole, but he was defeated in their last match which took place in the final of the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. The young Spaniard was the top favorite to win the gold medal in that circumstance, but he was less good than the Serbian at managing his nerves and paid the price in the two tiebreaks that decided their challenge.
That loss was very painful for Carlitos, who was then eliminated in the second round at both the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the US Open.
Alcaraz's sad for Draper
Alcaraz is looking to win his fifth Grand Slam title, while his opponent dreams of lifting his 11th trophy at Melbourne Park and making history again.
During his press conference, Carlitos commented on the match against Draper and revealed that he spoke to him in the locker room: Well, for me in that situation, I dont feel comfortable. Obviously its not the way I wanted to get through to win matches.
When I see someone that has to retire because of an injury, for me its not an easy moment. I couldnt tell anything to Jack in that moment. Just wish him a good recovery. Just said sorry.
I saw him in the locker room that I could speak more with him about it. But I just said that Im going to see him soon playing his best again.
