At the end of another breathless exchange in the early stages of the most highly anticipated match of the Australian Open, alone in the centre of the colossal Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic squatted down to stretch his legs while exchanging anxious looks with his team.
For 16 bruising strokes, Djokovic had been pummelled by Carlos Alcarez in full flight; he was dragged from sideline to sideline and then pulled forward to the net before he watched helplessly as a forehand passing shot winner flew by him. Djokovic pulled up from the gruelling point limping before calling for the physio.
It seemed for a few fleeting moments that the challenge of holding off one of the most special young players in history might be beyond Djokovic and his worn-down 37-year-old body this time. Instead, he responded with a masterpiece of a performance in the tournament that has defined his career, offering yet another reminder of his greatness by rallying from a set down to defeat Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and return to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
With another enormous victory against Alcaraz, Djokovic has now reached 50 grand slam semi-finals, extending his all-time record. He is the third man in history to reach multiple grand slam semi-finals after turning 37 and is also the third man in the Open era to reach the semi-finals at this age. Ken Rosewall and Roger Federer are the only other players to achieve this distinction.
In his 12th Australian Open semi-final Djokovic, the seventh seed, will face Alexander Zverev, seeded third, who earlier defeated the 12th seed Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1.
Over the past few years, the contests between Djokovic and Alcaraz have illustrated the changing complexions of their careers. While their first meeting occurred when Djokovic was No 1 and Alcaraz had only just broken into the top 10, the 21-year-old is now an established four-time grand slam champion. As the third seed, this was his section of the draw. Djokovic entered the match as clear challenger and underdog as he attempted to hold Alcaraz off again.
The most recent occasion they had met, Djokovic provided perhaps the most spectacular illustration of his mental strength and desire as he willed himself to the Olympic gold medal in Paris across two incredibly tight sets.
In strong winds on a cool Tuesday night in Melbourne, the tough, slower conditions did not stop the two players from trading blows with massive intensity from early on. By the middle of the opening set, Alcaraz was dictating most exchanges with his forehand and determination to close down the net. At 4-4 on Djokovic’s serve, he pulled up badly at the end of a gruelling rally. After losing the game, he took an off-court medical timeout. Once the match restarted, Alcaraz coolly served out the set.
With his left thigh bandaged tightly, Djokovic spent much of the second set limping between points, wincing after elaborate movements and he appeared to be in genuine pain. But his troubles also seemed to calm him; he played with astonishing focus and commitment, forcing himself inside the baseline and playing fearless first-strike tennis as he launched his forehand without hesitation. Even as Alcaraz fought back, testing his opponent’s movement with ample drop shots and sustained aggression, Djokovic maintained his composure.
“The medication started to kick in, and they helped,” said Djokovic. “To be honest, if I lost that second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better.”
In his discomfort, Djokovic presented the sharpest version of himself. He was relentless, deflecting returns with consistency and depth, pinning Alcaraz in his backhand corner and finding the answer to so many of the long exchanges with his forehand aggression. Alcaraz, meanwhile, was far too passive and flat, too focused on trying to outmanoeuvre his opponent rather than producing his best level.
“I felt like I was controlling the match, and I let him get into the match again,” Alcaraz said. “I’m going to say that was the biggest mistake that I made today.”
Still, Alcaraz fought desperately to the end. Down a break point at 2-4 in fourth set, he dragged himself through an excruciating 33-stroke rally that left both players hunched over in total exhaustion and he nearly used the momentum from his subsequent hold to turn the fourth set on its head. But Djokovic shut the door without hesitation to seal another supreme achievement in a 20-year grand slam career filled with them.
After closing out a monumental victory with a steely hold, Djokovic shared a warm, pointed embrace with his new coach, Andy Murray. It was precisely for these moments, the biggest matches against the best players, that Djokovic enlisted his old rival to his cause.
This was a reflection of his enduring commitment to his craft and the incredible level he continues to compete at so deep in his career, but also of the work they have produced in a short amount of time. As he chases down his 25th grand slam title, it has only just begun.
