Novak Djokovic has set the stage for a thrilling quarter-final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open on Tuesday after defeating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. Djokovic’s impressive 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over the Czech 24th seed advances him to the final eight in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The Serb will now face Spanish sensation Alcaraz, who progressed after British number one Jack Draper retired with a hip injury earlier on Sunday. The two have met before, with Alcaraz winning the last two Wimbledon finals, but Djokovic got the better of the 21-year-old at the Paris Olympics last summer, claiming gold in what he described as his “biggest sporting achievement.”
Djokovic, who was met with boos from the crowd as Lehecka nearly forced a fourth set, wasted no time in exiting Rod Laver Arena after his victory. The 37-year-old thanked the fans briefly, skipping the usual on-court interview.
While Djokovic appeared fatigued in his third-round win over Tomas Machac, needing a medical timeout at times, he looked sharper against Lehecka. He controlled the first two sets and didn’t allow Lehecka a break point for more than 100 minutes.
However, when Lehecka broke back in the third, Djokovic became visibly frustrated, shouting at his team — which includes former rival Andy Murray — and voicing complaints about noise from the crowd during his serve. The seventh seed later harnessed the energy of the spectators during the tie-break, orchestrating their cheers after hitting a stunning backhand pass and cupping his ear after securing two match points with a deft volley.
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic said: “When you are feeling adversity in the last couple of matches, I think I handled it well. Only people who have been there at the highest level understand what you have to deal with. There is a lot on the plate, and you have to weather the storm when you’re feeling challenged.”
The stage is now set for an eagerly anticipated clash between two of tennis’ brightest stars.
