Novak Djokovic resumes his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday in a conflict of two tennis generations.
Djokovic is arguably the game’s biggest of all time, taking part in in pursuit of a record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
In the meantime Alcaraz is on the forefront of tennis’ new wave of rising stars. He’s nonetheless solely 21 years previous, however has already received Wimbledon twice in addition to the French Open and US Open.
The Australian Open is the one main title exterior of Alcaraz’s assortment and he’s searching for to finish his profession Grand Slam this 12 months in Melbourne.
If he manages to take action, he could be the youthful participant ever to perform the feat.
This quarter-final will happen from 9.30am on Tuesday, which you’ll observe within the dwell weblog on the Sky Sports activities web site and app.
Alcaraz received a memorable Wimbledon ultimate in opposition to Djokovic in 2023, prevailing in a five-set thriller. The Spaniard dominated Djokovic to win the Wimbledon ultimate once more final 12 months.
However Djokovic was victorious of their final encounter, when he beat Alcaraz at Roland Garros in an emotional Olympic ultimate final summer season to safe his first gold medal.
Sky Sports activities Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend stated this quarter-final is “worthy of a final, worthy of any final, and yet here they are playing in the last eight”.
“They’ve had so many great battles in the past, notably the Wimbledon final from two years ago, the Cincinnati final from that summer as well was quite incredible and of course the Olympic final from 2024 on the clay of Roland Garros, which was in many people’s eyes was the match of last season,” Overend continued.
“It was an unbelievable level achieved by these two. The shot-making, the defensive ability, the movement of both of these guys – never in doubt – and the emotion at the end with Djokovic in tears having completed the Golden Slam and Alcaraz in tears because he came so close to winning that gold medal for Spain.
“If we get anyplace near a repeat of the usual of tennis that day on this match, then we’re in for a Melbourne deal with.”
‘I do know my weapons’
Alcaraz crushed an out-of-sorts Djokovic to retain his Wimbledon title final summer season
It will likely be the earliest stage at which they’ve crossed paths in a serious.
“This is not the right player to play in a quarter-final, I guess,” Alcaraz stated.
“Being in a quarter-final, I’m going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let’s see.
“I do know my weapons. I do know that I will play good tennis in opposition to him, I will beat him.”
Djokovic said of Alcaraz: “He is a really dynamic, explosive participant. Extremely proficient and charismatic. He is nice to observe however not that nice to play in opposition to.
“I’m expecting a big battle, as is the case in most of our matches when we’ve faced each other.”
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Djokovic says he’s relishing his new rivalry with Alcaraz, and hopes it can proceed for a few years to return…
Murray vs Ferrero: Battle of the coaches
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A have a look at each Masters ultimate on the ATP Tour between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic
Djokovic has a brand new supply of steerage for this competitors, having employed retired celebrity Andy Murray as his new coach.
Alcaraz’s coach is Juan Carlos Ferrero, one other former world No 1.
And Sky Sports activities Tennis’ Overend stated: “Murray actually beat Ferrero three times and all of them in 2009, including at Wimbledon that year.
“Two very astute readers of the sport and we all know the wonderful work Ferrero has carried out with Alcaraz over a number of years, however we’re already seeing Murray’s affect on Djokovic.
“The potential for this great short-term coaching arrangement is there for all to see and Murray will absolutely relish the opportunity of plotting Alcaraz’s downfall. I suppose the big question is, is whether he tries to tinker with anything in particular.
“What Murray may have the ability to convey is a few refined tweaks, probably to the counter-attacking recreation of Djokovic.
“We know how good he is, but could he see a few gaps in the Alcaraz backline to try to take the initiative in rallies and to stop the Spaniard getting on top of the points.”
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Murray joked that he is hoping to sabotage Djokovic’s possibilities of profitable one other Australian Open
The Alcaraz serve
Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to win his maiden Australian Open title
The Spaniard is 16 years youthful than Djokovic so age is on his aspect however final season his play was considerably erratic and he’s within the strategy of remodelling his serve.
“This is the first time they’ve met since Alcaraz has tweaked his serve,” stated Overend.
“Already we’ve seen an increase in speed, an increase in potency, the changes they’ve made in the off-season have been quite noticeable in the action. Any jerkiness that we previously saw from Carlos has gone, it’s a much smoother motion now. He seems to be able to generate that ‘pop’ with it.
“All of it appears to be coming collectively for him, however will that be as efficient? That slight enhance in efficiency in opposition to the best returner, in opposition to Djokovic.
“I think Djokovic is too good a returner for it to make any particular difference.”
Djokovic to win record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam?
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Sky Sports activities Tennis’ Jonathan Overend speaks on Djokovic’s resolution to convey Murray onto his group
“I believe Djokovic has got it in him to win and logic suggests that his best chance is this next chance at this Australian Open, then you add the element of Andy Murray and his coaching corner,” stated Sky Sports activities Tennis’ Overend.
“This is the opportunity for Djokovic to break the record. He’s three matches away from doing it.
“Doubtlessly he’ll must beat Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner in successive matches which goes to be enormously robust however having gone for him from the beginning and having that mic-drop second of constructing 25 Grand Slams and who is aware of? Possibly even retiring on the spot ought to he win the trophy.
“I’m going to have to go for Djokovic to repeat his Paris achievement and beat Alcaraz once more.”
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