PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 04: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain (R) and Olympic champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia (L) pose for a photo before men´s single final on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are heading for another reunion, having been drawn against each other in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz was leading 7-5, 6-1 at the time, while Djokovic earned his spot with a straight set win over Jiri Lehecka.
Both Djokovic and Alcaraz are former ATP number ones, but are now ranked seventh and third respectively ahead of their Australian Open match.
It is, however, the Serbian who leads their head-to-head record, having won four of their seven matches so far.
Carlos Alcaraz praises ‘unbelievable’ Novak Djokovic ahead of Australian Open quarter-final
World number one Jannik Sinner has praised Djokovic amid his Australian Open run, with Alcaraz now getting in on the act.
Asked in his latest post-match press conference if experience has an edge over youth and indeed if experience now comes into play, the Spaniard replied: “Well, I think he’s the player who has the most quarter-finals in a Grand Slam in history, if I’m not wrong. I don’t know.
“I think, yeah, obviously he has experience. When we are seeing him playing, he seems like he’s young again, so… it’s unbelievable.
“He’s in a really good shape. I mean, in a quarter-final, I’ve been in this position a few times already. I don’t know.
“Obviously the experience, getting more experience on that situation, is important. I don’t think that it’s going to take advantage on it. I’m just ready and I know what I have to do in quarter-finals.”
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Carlos Alcaraz says if his matches against Novak Djokovic change based on the surface
Remarkably, all ATP battles between Djokovic and Alcaraz have come in the semi-finals of tournaments or later.
And while the 37-year-old boasts the better record, it is the 21-year-old who has the bragging rights in Grand Slam finals.
Alcaraz has now beaten Djokovic in back-to-back Wimbledon finals, although the latter did manage to get revenge in last summer’s Olympic gold medal match.
And having met the veteran on grass, clay and hard courts, the Spanish superstar was also asked if their matches change depending on the surface.
“Not really,” he said. “Honestly, I mean, depends on the surface that I’m playing, I change my game a little bit. It’s not going to be the same game style when I’m playing on grass or clay court obviously.
“I think everybody has their weakness. It doesn’t matter if we were playing on one surface or another, we are going to still have the same weakness.
“What weakness Novak has? Just a few or none. 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. I’m just excited.”
