Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz recap: Result from the 2025 Australian Open quarter-final as the Serb prevails in four

N. Djokovic vs C. Alcaraz | Australian Open
Men's Singles | Quarter-final | 21.01.2025 | Rod Laver Arena
Completed
N. Djokovic (7)
C. Alcaraz (3)
4
6
6
6
6
4
3
4
Live
Live Updates
11:23
Live comment icon
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-6 2-0 ALCARAZ
There’s definitely no sign of any issues with the groin.
Djokovic is given a chance to attack the Alcaraz second serve and reels off a trio of devastating return to earn break point from 40-30 down.
Alcaraz is strangely subdued, allowing Novak to attack and a beastly forehand down the line forces the error wide to secure the early break in the second.

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
11:18
DJOKOVIC 4-6 1-0 ALCARAZ
No sign of how much the Djokovic injury niggle is bothering him here as he marauds through a clean hold to kick off Set 2 in positive fashion.
11:14
Live comment icon
SET! - DJOKOVIC 4-6 ALCARAZ
Alcaraz stays fully-focused as he eventually serves out to love to take charge at Rod Laver Arena.
The No.3 seed hit back from an early break and grew stronger as the set developed to take it in 54 minutes.
picture

Image credit: Getty Images


11:10
Live comment icon
DJOKOVIC HEADS OFF COURT FOR TREATMENT
The No.7 seed was labouring a bit there and seems to point to his groin as he heads for a medical time-out away from the spotlight.
It's unfortunate timing for Alcaraz. He's just gained the momentum but will have to remain patient and focused as he waits to try and serve-out the opener.
11:06
Live comment icon
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 4-5 ALCARAZ
Advantage Alcaraz!
Djokovic seems to struggle physically and can’t survive an epic 10-game test as Alcaraz turns the screw on the return.
The Serb shows great wheels to punish a heavy volley with a jabbed forehand pass down the line, but he’s soon facing some stress at 15-30 as the No.3 seed follows up a devilish crosscourt dropper with a sweet forehand pass.
The 21-year-old almost pulls off one of the best shots you’ll see as he anticipates Nole’s mid-court forehand and sizzles a squash-shot forehand pass on the run that just misses the back of the baseline.
Novak has game point courtesy of going for broke on a hefty second serve but then misses a make-able backhand long off a routine rallying ball.
It puts him up against it as Alcaraz sizzles a backhand down the line to earn break point and then rips a replica winner to earn a second chance.
Djokovic resists both but unravels on the third with a tired forehand into the tramlines.
Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:55
DJOKOVIC 4-4 ALCARAZ
Alcaraz winces as a second straight miss off the forehand takes his tally up to 13 unforced errors and gives Djoker a look-in at 15-30.
The Spaniard finds the first serve to wrestle his way back out of danger with Djoker the one left feeling frustrated as he fails to land returns that he expects to make.
10:50
DJOKOVIC 4-3 ALCARAZ
Djokovic dusts himself down after an obvious drop shot is punished with a simple backhand winner down the line from Alcaraz.
Fortunately for the Serb, the lapse comes at 40-0 and he quickly secures the hold when Carlitos sizzles a backhand off the island.
10:49
WATCH AGAIN: THE 10-TIME CHAMPION SALUTES ALCARAZ'S ASTONISHING RETRIEVAL
So good, we'll post it again!
View on repeat - and enjoy.
picture

Watch as Djokovic applauds Alcaraz after 'ridiculous' shot wows fans

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:47
DJOKOVIC 3-3 ALCARAZ
Alcaraz is still only finding his best in patches here and he’s going to need to raise it as the match develops if he’s to come on top today.
The Spaniard follows a neat forehand wrong-footer with a double fault for 30-30 but then survives Nole’s attempted backhand pass down the line by a whisker.
Djokovic comes out on top in an acute-angled backhand exchange to pose a threat at deuce, but Alcaraz brings his drop shot to the party for the first time and a solid serve helps him reach parity on the board.
10:45
VIDEO: SHOT OF THE MATCH SO FAR?
It was a remarkable 'get' from the No.3 seed.
Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:41
DJOKOVIC 3-2 ALCARAZ
Djokovic almost unravels from 40-15 up but regains the initiative at deuce with a smart wrong-footer off Alcaraz’s return.
The Serb guns the first serve from there and retains the scoreboard advantage.
10:36
DJOKOVIC 2-2 ALCARAZ
All square.
Alcaraz finds his Mojo on serve, rattling down a maiden ace and executing a polished plus-one winner off the forehand as he reels off four points in a row from 0-15 to level up early.
10:32
Live comment icon
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 2-1 ALCARAZ
How about that!
It’s a clumsy error-strewn game, particularly from Novak’s point of view as his forehand leaks unforced mistakes to offer up a break back point.
The best rally of the match ensues with Alcaraz switching from slice defence into attack with a magnificent backhand missile of a winner down the line!
10:29
AN ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE! - ROD LAVER ARENA WELCOMES THE GLADIATORS AHEAD OF BATTLE
picture

Watch raucous scenes as Djokovic and Alcaraz walk out for blockbuster quarter-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:27
Live comment icon
BREAK! – DJOKOVIC 2-0 ALCARAZ
There are early danger signs for Alcaraz.
The Spaniard hasn’t quite settled and follows up a poor mid-court forehand into the net with one that leaks long.
Djokovic thinks he has the No.3 seed with a raking, low crosscourt backhand pass, but Carlitos does the splits to claw a sensational drop volley over the net.
Nole can only applaud its brilliance, but he gets his opening soon after when Alcaraz flashes another rallying ball long via the backhand.
The 21-year-old just isn’t solid enough and slaps a forehand long to gift an early break to the 10-time champion.
10:22
DJOKOVIC 1-0 ALCARAZ
No fireworks just yet.
Alcaraz struggles to find the island with his return at first, allowing Nole to ease 40-0 up.
The Spaniard finally makes one and lures the error before Djokovic skews a backhand into the tramlines.
A clutch serve ensures the Serb doesn’t endure any further travails as he chalks up a game to 30 to open this heavyweight quarter-final showdown.
10:20
READY? ... PLAY!
Nole-Carlitos Part 8 gets underway with Djokovic serving first.
Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:17
LET BATTLE COMMENCE!
The players have arrived on court and are currently running through the warm-up.
10:15
NOVAK'S SIX APPEAL
The Serbinator is bidding to reach the last four at this tournament for the sixth time in a row (he was absent in 2022).
If he prevails it would be the 12th time in his career he would make it to the semi finals Down Under - on 10 occasions he has gone on to lift the trophy.
In contrast, Alcaraz is only featuring in his fourth Australian Open. The Spaniard made the last eight in 2024 and is hoping to break new ground today.
Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:10
GRAB A BREW AND DOWN SOME LATE BREKKIE - WE COULD BE IN FOR AN EPIC!
picture

'So here we are' - Djokovic and Alcaraz set for latest clash of the titans

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+
10:05
CAN ALCARAZ BEAT DJOKOVIC ON A COURT MANY REGARD AS HIS OWN BACKYARD?
Nole holds a 94-9 record at Melbourne Park, but an Alcaraz at his best is hard to bet against.
We can't wait for this one!
picture

'This one is his tournament' - Alcaraz gives Eurosport his views on facing Djokovic

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+