Australian Open: Alcaraz-Djokovic Rivalry Keeps Getting Better And Better

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (photo: Australian Open TV/YouTube)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 20, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

Novak Djokovic has won four of his seven career meetings with Carlos Alcaraz, including twice on hard courts. On Tuesday, when their intergenerational rivalry resumes in the quarterfinal round of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena, it will be their first meeting before the semifinals at any tournament. It’s also their first hard-court skirmish at a Grand Slam event.

Djokovic, 37, and the 21-year-old Alcaraz split a pair of matches last year. First, the Spaniard won on grass in the final of the Wimbledon Championships. Then, Djokovic prevailed in the Paris Olympics gold medal match on clay.

“This rivalry just keeps getting better and better,” Djokovic said, quoted by the ATP Tour website.

The 24-time major titlist Djokovic not only is chasing after a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown, he’s also trying to win his 100th ATP Tour singles title, too. Plus, he’s the third man in the Open Era to reach the AO quarterfinals aged 37 or older – after Ken Rosewall, who reached four Australian Open quarterfinals after turning 37, and Roger Federer, who advanced to the quarterfinals in Melbourne as a 38-year-old in 2020.

“I’m expecting a big battle, as it’s the case in most of our matches where we faced each other,” Djokovic said, after defeating No. 24 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia in the round of 16 on Sunday. “Maybe just couple times it was quite one-sided. Wimbledon finals last year, he was the dominant force on the court. I had a really good match against him in the [Nitto ATP Finals] in 2023.

“Other than that, we had some long battles, long exchanges kind of matches that I played against him. Reminds me of my matchups versus Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court.

“He’s very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented. Charismatic player. Great to watch; not that great to play against,” Djokovic said, breaking in a smile.

Djokovic continued: “I look forward to it. I think when the draw was out, a lot of people were looking forward to potential matchup in quarterfinals, Alcaraz versus me. So, here we are. I think we both are hitting the ball pretty well this tournament. I like the way I’m playing and the way I’m feeling last couple of matches. I’m excited about this challenge.”

After Alcaraz advanced by injury retirement over No. 15 seed Jack Draper of Great Britain on Sunday, the young Spaniard said he’s “just happy” with his level of play on the court.

“Off the court, I’m feeling really comfortable here in Australia. I think it’s pretty good. Physically, I’m feeling great so coming into the second week of a Grand Slam it’s really important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher. I’m just ready. I think I’m doing great things off the court as well.

“I’m excited about playing my second quarterfinal in Australia and hopefully getting further this year.”

And what does Alcaraz have to say about facing Djokovic? “I change my game a little bit,” he said. “It’s not going to be the same game style when I’m playing on grass or clay court, obviously.” 

Alcaraz said he sees few or no weaknesses in Djokovic’s game. “I know what I have to do on clay, on hard court, on grass. 

“This is going to be the first time that I am playing against him in a Grand Slam on hard court. So, let’s see.”

Andreeva and Shnaider: Singles stars who shine together as doubles team

Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider are both up-and-coming Top-15 singles players, who have joined forces to create a pretty formidable doubles team.

Andreeva, just 17 and already ranked 15th, and No. 13 Shnaider, a 20-year-old lefty, joined together on the doubles court for the first time last summer at the Paris Olympics and advanced all the way to the gold medal match before losing to Italy’s Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.

Now, the Australian Open is only their fourth tournament as a team – but the young Russians are making a splash Down Under and have reached the third round.

On Sunday, Andreeva and Shnaider defeated Errani and Paolini, 7-5, 7-5 to gain revenge from their Olympic disappointment, which was decided by a 10-7 match tie-break.

As Andreeva, who earlier in the day was eliminated in the fourth round of singles by two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, put it during an on-court interview:  “Honestly I had some flashbacks, when we led 4-2, and then after it was 4-5.

“We both got very nervous, but then we decided just to go for it, to be aggressive, to keep playing our game, and in the end it worked.

“I think now we’re going be super focused on doubles, because that’s the only thing we have left (laughter). So we’re just going go for it and we’re just going try to beat everyone.”

Like Andreeva, Shnaider went out in singles, losing in the third round to No. 18 seed Donna Vekic.

The silver medalists have an unblemished record this season at 7-0, with a recent title at the Brisbane International to boost their confidence.

“I feel like our goal is to go out and enjoy playing with each other,” Shnaider said. “Having fun with each other. We will see but we will work hard and try our best each match.”

On Monday, in the round of 16, Andreeva and Shnaider defeated Australian wild cards Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the quarterfinal round against Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia and Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.

Team Australia and the World to play for the love of the game

Starting on Tuesday, Australia will take on the World in a fresh new format as the AO Legends Cup, presented by Marriott Bonvoy, debuts at Melbourne Park. Fans can look forward to star-studded lineups featuring legends of tennis competing in men’s, women’s mixed doubles formats.

The legendary field collectively boasts more than 20 Grand Slam titles, including six singles crowns. Three men and three women will make up each team, and every player will participate in three doubles matches – two men’s or women’s doubles and one mixed doubles.

Representing Team Australia are: Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis, Sam Stosur, Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua.

Representing Team World are: Tommy Haas, Germany; James Blake, United States; Marcos Baghdatis, Cypress; Daniela Hantuchova, Czechia; Andrea Petkovic, Germany; and Iva Majoli, Croatia.

Play will run from Tuesday and culminates on Friday with the finals and trophy presentations.

Around the Australian Open

• From 1-4 down in the opening set, No. 28 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine won five straight games to pull out the set, and garnered 11 of the final 12 games overall of her fourth-round match against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and won 6-4, 6-1 in an hour and 23 minutes on Rod Laver Arena Monday afternoon.

Svitolina, 30, who reached back-to-back AO quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019, is through to her third Melbourne last eight and 12th career Grand Slam quarterfinal – and, its the fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal since she gave birth to her daughter, Skaï in 2022. She hit 15 winners, including five aces, and broke Kudermetova’s serve five times in nine attempts. Svitolina outpointed her opponent 59-43.

“I feel like, you know, it was a lifetime ago,” Svitolina said in her on-court interview describing the last time she reached a quarterfinal in Melbourne. “You know, so many things happen, having our daughter, Skaï, and then surgery as well. You know it’s many things that have happened. I’m really pleased with the performance throughout this tournament. I’m really, really enjoying this win today.”

Next, Svitolina will play either World No. 7 and sixth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan or World No. 14 and 19th seed Madison Keys of the United States.

• Women’s doubles No. 1 seeds Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States won their third-round match over No. 16 seeds Leylah Fernandez and Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-0 in 54 minutes on Kia Arena. The winners converted four of five break points and won 59 percent of their receiving points in advancing to the quarterfinal round.

• Men’s doubles No. 1 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia are through to the quarterfinals after defeating French 16th seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Sunday. Next, they will face Andre Goransson of Sweden and Sem Verbeek of the Netherlands.

Monday’s Australian Open results

Tuesday’s Australian Open order of play

By the numbers

A victory by the last Australian man or woman standing in the singles draw, Alex de Minaur, against American Alex Michelsen would see the No. 8 seed become the fifth Australian man in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals or better in all four Grand Slam tournaments.

“Quotable …”

“I’m the most competitive person that I know. I just compete in everything. I just got snipped in HORSE by someone that works at the Australian Open. I play video games and I lose, I get mad. I play tennis matches. I don’t like losing, it’s just in my blood.”

– #NextGenATP rising star Alex Michelsen of the United States, describing his competitiveness, as quoted by the ATP Tour website.

 

Search

Brigitte Urban
Tennis photographer
camera lens

International Blogs

Dietmar Kaspar

Schwaben Open kehren 2025 in die bayerischen Sommerferien zurück

December 16, 2024

Robert Frank

TCG Charity Cup bringt 13.000 Euro für den guten Zweck

October 16, 2024

Florian Heer

Apostolos Tsitsipas: “Coaching ist etwas Persönliches!”

September 4, 2024

Podcast

Categories