Australian Open 2025: Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, defeated Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the fourth round on Rod Laver Arena.
Unstoppable 10-time champion Novak Djokovic secured a thrilling Australian Open quarterfinal clash with Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday after defeating Czech Jiri Lehecka.
The victory propelled him into the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for a record 15th time, tying Roger Federer and surpassing Rafael Nadal and John Newcombe.
The win also extended Djokovic’s all-time record to 61 Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances, putting him three ahead of the Swiss great Roger Federer.
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His reward is a Tuesday showdown with third seed Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner at just 21, who is yet to progress beyond the Australian Open quarterfinals.
The 21-year-old Spanian set up the clash after Briton Jack Draper retired during their last-16 match when losing 7-5, 6-1.
Alcaraz said about facing Djokovic,
“Being in a quarterfinal, I am going to approach the match the same way I did in our previous encounters, and let’s see”.
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“When we watch him play, it feels like he’s young again. It’s unbelievable. He’s in really good shape,” said Alcaraz about Djokovic.”
“I am really just ready and I know what I have to do in quarterfinals.”
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have faced off seven times, with the Serb leading 4-3, including a win in their most recent meeting at the Paris Olympics final.
They have met three times at Grand Slams, twice in the Wimbledon final, with the Spaniard emerging victorious on both occasions.
However, they have never faced each other at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has enjoyed his greatest success.
Lehecka triumphed at the lead-up Brisbane International, where Djokovic was defeated in the quarterfinals, but the Czech was never truly in contention on the big stage.
Djokovic quickly applied pressure to Lehecka’s serve, breaking in the eighth game of the first set after the Czech hit a double fault.
Another break on Lehecka’s opening serve set the tone for the second set, with Djokovic dominating from the baseline.”
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The young Czech adjusted his tactics in a more competitive third set, pushing Djokovic to the net and increasing the intensity of his serves.
The set went to a tiebreak, where the Serb delivered some stunning shots to clinch the victory.
Against Draper, Alcaraz was in control when the Briton retired on a sweltering afternoon due to ‘multiple areas really in pain.
The 15th seed Draper required five sets to win his first three matches in Melbourne, coming from behind in each to stay in the tournament, but the toll eventually caught up with him.
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