Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka could have represented two probing tests for Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open. The Serbian legend had not played his best tennis in the first two rounds at Melbourne Park, but he definitely raised his level in the last few days and defeated both Czech players in three sets.
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The former world No.1 only had problems in the third set of the match against Lehecka, who increased his serving percentages and forced Nole into a tiebreak. The 24-time Grand Slam champion got slightly nervous, but made the difference in the tiebreak with a couple of splendid points and conserved energy ahead of the quarterfinals.
His next opponent will be Carlos Alcaraz, who absolutely wants to win the only Major title he still has left. The young Spanish champion is playing quite well and seems to be able to grow again in a tournament that has never brought him great luck up to this point in his career.
The 37-year-old from Belgrade knows that it will be a very tough battle and hopes to use his experience, as he did perfectly during the final of the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. At almost 38 years old, Novak wants to accomplish the titanic feat of winning his 25th Grand Slam title and breaking an incredible new record.
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Nole has only one goal
Meanwhile, the current world No.7 has equaled Swiss legend Roger Federer with 15 appearances in the quarterfinals of the Happy Slam.
Speaking on Eurosport, tennis legend John McEnroe revealed that Djokovic will really give his all to win this tournament: "What he wants is to get to 25, I don't think he cares how he does it.
If he knew he was going to win the tournament, of course hed rather play Alcaraz and get a piece of him and then beat Jannik Sinner in the final, the best of the best.
The American also added: "But at this point, its not like he hasnt proven he can beat the best, and done it a bunch of times. He's just trying to set records that wont be surpassed. Hes awfully close already, if not there.
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I don't see how any male players are going to break his records for a long time."
