NEW DELHI: 10-time champion Novak Djokovic on Sunday arrange a blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final towards Carlos Alcaraz after beating Czech Jiri Lehecka.
The Serbian, 37, who’s aiming for a document 25th Grand Slam title, triumphed over the 24th seed Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on the Rod Laver Area.
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The victory marks Djokovic’s 15th quarter-final look at Melbourne Park, a document he now shares with Roger Federer and is one forward of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.
The win additionally extends his personal all-time mark to 61 for probably the most quarter-final appearances at main tournaments, three forward of the Swiss nice.
Djokovic’s reward is a showdown on Tuesday with third seed Alcaraz, who, on the age of 21, is already a four-time Slam winner however has by no means superior past the Australian Open quarters. The Spaniard secured the conflict after Briton Jack Draper retired throughout their last-16 match whereas trailing 7-5, 6-1.
“Being in a quarter-final, I’ll strategy the match the identical as I did within the earlier matches towards him, and let’s examine,” stated Alcaraz of Djokovic.
“After we are seeing him taking part in, he looks like he is younger once more, so… It is unbelievable. He is in a extremely good condition.”
However the Spaniard added: “I am simply prepared and I do know what I’ve to do in quarter-finals.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz have confronted one another seven occasions, with the Serb holding a 4-Three lead, together with a victory of their most up-to-date encounter within the Paris Olympics closing.
They’ve met at Grand Slams 3 times, twice within the Wimbledon decider, with the Spaniard successful on each events. Nonetheless, they’ve by no means performed at Melbourne Park, the place Djokovic has achieved his biggest success.
Lehecka, who received the lead-up Brisbane Worldwide occasion the place Djokovic misplaced within the quarter-finals, was by no means significantly in competition on the large stage.
Djokovic shortly put stress on his serve and achieved a break within the eighth recreation of the primary set when the Czech double-faulted.
One other break on Lehecka’s opening serve set the tone for the second set, with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.
In a more in-depth third set, the younger Czech modified techniques, pushing Djokovic to the web extra whereas rising his serving depth. The set went to a tiebreak, the place the Serb produced some gorgeous photographs to seal the win.
In his match towards Draper, Alcaraz was effectively in management when the Briton retired on a sweltering afternoon on account of ‘a number of areas actually in ache’.
The 15th seed Draper wanted 5 units to win his first three Melbourne matches, rallying from behind in all of them to remain within the match, and it lastly caught up with him.
“It isn’t the best way I wished to win. However clearly I am blissful to play one other quarter-final right here in Australia,” stated Alcaraz.
“Bodily, I am feeling nice. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam you will need to really feel effectively bodily as a result of proper now the matches are even harder.”
