Melbourne [Australia], January 19: Novak Djokovic made his way into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a dominant victory over Jiri Lehecka, setting up an exciting clash with rival Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in just two hours and 39 minutes, equaling Roger Federer’s record of 15 quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open.
The Serbian great was in fine form, executing a controlled and aggressive baseline game. Djokovic committed just 21 unforced errors, while Lehecka had 44. “I felt great. A couple of hiccups here and there, but I managed pressure moments well,” Djokovic said after the match. “I handled the aggressive style of my opponent well and played some great points towards the end.”
Meanwhile, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz also secured his place in the quarterfinals, though in an unusual way. His opponent, Jack Draper, was forced to retire due to injury while trailing 7-5, 6-1. Draper had been struggling with hip tendinitis throughout the week and could not continue after playing five-set matches in his previous rounds.
“It’s not the way I want to win, but I’m happy to reach another quarterfinal in Australia,” Alcaraz said. “I’m sad for Jack, he is a nice person, and no one deserves to get injured. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Alcaraz’s powerful game had been in full flow, as he moved from a 5-2 lead in the first set to dominate the match. This marks his 10th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, equaling the Open Era record for most QF appearances by a men’s player under 21. The world No. 3 is eyeing his first Australian Open title and a complete set of Grand Slam titles after already winning the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), and the French Open (2024).
With Djokovic and Alcaraz both advancing, their quarterfinal clash promises to be a thrilling encounter at the ongoing Australian Open.