Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz battled in the Australian Open quarter-final. The Serb scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3,6-4 victory in three hours and 37 minutes. The ten-time championovercamean injury and earneda notable triumph that sent him into the last four.
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The veteran experienced an injury and struggled in the opening two sets. It interupted Carlos' rhythm and raised controversy, although therivals embraced a friendly handshake after the duel. Alcaraz shared a message with his fans, congratulating Djokovic for winning a great battle.
Novak responded and called the young gun a warrior. The veteran took nine points more than his rival, playing more reduced tennis but controlling his strokes nicely. Alcaraz fired 50 winners and 40 unforced errors, missing in the pivotal moments and ending his run in the last eight.
Djokovic lost serve four times and delivered six breaks. He prevailed in the shortest and most advanced exchanges to emerge at the top and collecthis 12th Australian Open semi-final. They traded early breaks at the beginning of the duel and reached 4-4.
Novak struggled with a leginjury and missed a game point in game nine. He lost serve after a forehand error and fell behind. The ten-time champion received a medical timeout outside the court before Alcaraz fired an ace in game ten for a hold at love and 6-4.
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The Serb fought well early in the third set and moved 3-0 in front. Djokovic missed a volley in the fifth game,bringingAlcaraz back to the positive side. The 21-year-old saved two break points in the sixth game and stayed on the positive side.
Novak made a push on the return at 5-4 and delivered a break at love with a cracking backhand down the line winner. Thus, the veteran leveled the overall score after an hour and 45 minutes. Carlos served poorly early in the third set.
He survived in games two and four to stay in touch. However, he wasted a 40-15 lead in the sixth game andsprayed a backhand error to suffer a break and fall 4-2 behind. The Spaniard pulled the break back in the next one and returned to the positive side.
Novak kept his composure and secured another break in game eight. Helandeda forehand winner and stolethe rival's serve at love for a 5-3 lead. The Serb served for the set in game nine and climbed back from 0-30.
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Djokovic converted a set point after an entertaining rally and a thrilling backhand crosscourt attack, moving two sets to one ahead after two hours and 34 minutes. The veteran moved better due to medications and kept the pressure on the other side.
Alcaraz sent a forehand wide at the start of the fourth set, losing serve and moving closer to the exit door. World no. 7 saved a break point in game four with a forced error and held for 3-1. Novak survived deuces in the sixth game and moved 4-2 up.
He earned a break chance in the next one, and Carlos saved it after a 36-shot rally. The young gun made the ultimate push on the return at 3-4, creating two break points. Alcaraz missed the first with a wild forehand, and Djokovic saved the second with a serve & volley combo.
The ten-time Australian Open champion held with a forehand winner at the net and moved 5-3 up. Carlos held at 15 in game nine with a service winner, and Novak served for the win at 5-4. The Serb held at 30 after drawing the rival's mistake, moving into his 50th Major semi-final.
