NEW DELHI: Novak Djokovic, defying age, emerged victorious in a thrilling generational battle against Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-final in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old Serb remains on course for his 11th Australian Open title, with Alexander Zverev awaiting him in the semi-finals.
Despite having his left thigh heavily strapped, Djokovic outlasted the Spaniard, who is 16 years his junior, in a grueling 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 encounter that lasted 3 hours and 37 minutes. The vintage performance propelled him into the semi-finals at Melbourne Park for the 12th time, second only to Roger Federer’s 15 appearances.
The win also extended Djokovic’s all-time record for most Grand Slam semi-final appearances to 50, four ahead of Federer.
To reach another final, he will have to overcome second seed Zverev, who fought his way into the last four for the second year in a row with a 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 victory over American 12th seed Tommy Paul.
In the midst of swirling winds, Djokovic started strong but Alcaraz quickly found his footing. The Spaniard broke back and eventually took the first set, prompting Djokovic to call for a medical timeout.
However, the Serb returned with his thigh strapped and dominated the second set. Alcaraz fought back, but Djokovic’s resilience shone through as he claimed the set.
The third set was intense, with both players holding serve until a series of breaks left Djokovic ahead, allowing him to close out the set. In the fourth set, Djokovic broke early and held on, despite some sensational tennis from both men, to secure his place in the semi-finals.
“Two of the best players that have ever touched a tennis racquet,” said Zverev of Djokovic and Alcaraz.
“Novak is the greatest of all time right now. Carlos is going to be one of them when he hangs it up so it is a clash of generations.”
Bidding to become the first German man to win a Grand Slam since Boris Becker in 1996, Zverev was made to work hard by Paul.
But he asserted himself when it mattered in the tiebreaks and won the fourth set emphatically.
“I’m going to prepare myself for a very intense and high-level match,” he said on the semi-final.