Australian Open

Australian Open: Djokovic against Lehecka now LIVE

Novak Djokovic(Bild: AFP/APA/Adrian DENNIS)

Novak Djokovic remains in commanding form. On Sunday, the Serbian superstar defeated the Czech Jiri Lehecka 6:3, 6:4 and 7:6(4) at the Australian Open. Now it's time for the dream quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz.

The quarter-final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at the Tennis Australian Open is perfect. Both celebrated safe wins in the round of 16 on Sunday, which means that there will be a repeat of the Olympic final won by Djokovic. The Spaniard Alcaraz (No. 3) took a 7:5,6:1 lead and benefited from the retirement of Britain's Jack Draper, while the Serb Djokovic (7) defeated the Czech Jiri Lehecka (24) 6:3,6:4,7:6(4). Alexander Zverev also reached the last eight.

Carlos Alcaraz(Bild: AFP/APA/Martin KEEP)

Vienna winner Draper ran out of steam after three five-set matches. "It's not the way I wanted to get to the next round," said Alcaraz about his first quarter-final in Melbourne. He is now three wins short of a career Grand Slam. At the age of just 21, the Iberian has already reached ten Major quarter-finals, a feat previously only achieved by the German Boris Becker and the Swedes Mats Wilander and Björn Borg. In the head-to-head with Djokovic, the current French Open and Wimbledon winner trails 3:4.

Alcaraz's fourth Major duel with Djokovic
It will be the old champion's fourth Major duel with the young star. Alcaraz prevailed in the last two Wimbledon finals, Djokovic in the semi-finals of Roland Garros 2023. The 37-year-old is going for his 25th Grand Slam title with Andy Murray on the bench, which would make him the sole record holder across all genders. "I think I handled it quite well in the pressure moments," said Djokovic about his 61st appearance in a Major quarter-final.

Zverev won 6:1, 2:6, 6:3, 6:2 against Frenchman Ugo Humbert (14) and will now face Tommy Paul (12). The US ace had a fairly easy game against the equally exhausted Spaniard Aljeandro Davidovich Fokina, winning 6:1,6:1,6:1. The Iberian had turned around a 0:2 set deficit in each of the two previous rounds. Zverev lost the two previous duels - both on hard court - with Paul in Acapulco in 2020 and Indian Wells in 2022.