Novak Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, continued his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title with a dominant 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7-4) victory over Czech Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round on Rod Laver Arena.
The 37-year-old Serbian’s win saw him advance to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the 15th time, tying a record with Roger Federer and moving one ahead of Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe. Djokovic also extended his all-time record to 61 quarter-final appearances at Grand Slam events, three more than Federer.
The victory sets up a tantalizing quarter-final clash with world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who, despite being a four-time Grand Slam champion at just 21 years old, has never reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open. Alcaraz earned his spot in the last eight after British opponent Jack Draper retired in the second set of their match due to injury, with Alcaraz leading 7-5, 6-1 at the time.
Speaking of Djokovic, Alcaraz acknowledged the Serbian’s impressive form, saying, “When we see him playing, he seems like he’s young again. It’s unbelievable. He’s in really good shape.”
Alcaraz added, “I’m just ready and I know what I have to do in the quarter-finals.”
The two players have met seven times, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 4-3, including a victory in the Paris Olympics final. However, Alcaraz has won both of their Wimbledon encounters, including two finals.
Djokovic’s win over Lehecka was marked by his strong serving and precise baseline play. He broke Lehecka’s serve in the eighth game of the first set after a double fault and followed up with another break in the second set. Lehecka shifted his tactics in the third set, attempting to force Djokovic to the net, but the Serbian remained composed, sealing the match in a tiebreak with a series of clinical shots.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s route to the quarter-finals was more straightforward, as Draper was forced to retire during their match due to physical discomfort. Despite the unusual way the match ended, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his fitness, saying, “Physically, I’m feeling great. Coming into the second week of a Grand Slam, it’s important to feel well physically because the matches are even tougher.”
Djokovic and Alcaraz will now face off for a place in the semi-finals, with their quarter-final match set to be one of the most eagerly anticipated encounters of the tournament.
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