Novak Djokovic Beats Alcaraz in 3-Hour Thriller to Reach Semis

Novak Djokovic pulled off another incredible comeback to defeat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, reaching the Australian Open semi-finals. Despite struggling with an upper leg injury early in the match, Djokovic, 37, battled back after treatment to continue his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. The thrilling contest which lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes saw Djokovic play aggressively after overcoming pain, eventually taking control of the match.

Alcaraz the 21-year-old third seed became frustrated as Djokovic’s relentless style of play put him on the back foot. The two shared a respectful embrace after the match but Alcaraz’s hopes of becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam were dashed. While Djokovic faced doubts about his ability to compete against younger players like Alcaraz, he demonstrated his resilience, having come back from adversity before.

A more aggressive approach in the second and third sets including a stunning backhand on set point, allowed him to regain momentum and break Alcaraz’s serve multiple times. Alcaraz, despite controlling much of the first set, admitted to losing focus, allowing Novak Djokovic to seize control. He reflected, “I felt like I was controlling the match and I let him get into it again.” Djokovic now faces second seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals and although concerned about his physical condition, he remains mentally and emotionally ready for the challenge.