Novak Djokovic survives Aus Open epic as fans turn on Carlos Alcaraz for 'mocking' injured great
Djokovic looked down and out after picking up an injury in the opening set.
Novak Djokovic defied an upper leg injury to stun World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday night and keep his quest for a record 25th grand slam singles title alive. The 10-time champion at Melbourne Park appeared down and out after clutching at his left leg in the opening set, with Alcaraz accused of 'mocking' the Serb's injury at one point in the veteran's 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory.
Djokovic grabbed at his leg and could be seen wincing in pain at the end of a taxing point against the Spaniard. The Serb looked in discomfort before having his serve broken to go down 4-5, before calling a medical timeout to have his left thigh strapped and returned to court, but was no match to prevent Alcaraz claiming the opening set.
Fans and commentators were concerned the 37-year-old would not be able to finish the match but the break seemed to re-energise Djokovic and he came out firing in the second set. The 10-time champ clearly looked limited in his movement and struggled to deal with most of Alcaraz's drop shots but it freed him up to go for bigger winners and the tactic paid off handsomely.
The writing seemed to be on the wall when Djokovic squandered a 3-0 lead and Alcaraz broke back to get the second set on level terms, with Djokovic still struggling. But the Serb found another gear and once again seemed to able to push through the pain barrier to claim the second set and square up the match.
Djokovic never looked back from that moment and Alcaraz appeared to become increasingly frustrated as he struggled to overcome an opponent 16 years his senior, who appeared to be on one leg. And when Djokovic took out a more straightforward third set to take a 2-1 advantage, the frustrations appeared to boil over for Alcaraz at the change over.
Carlos Alcaraz accused of 'mocking' Novak Djokovic injury
The Spaniard could be seen getting up from his chair and hobbling around the side of the court grabbing at the back of one of his legs, right near where Djokovic was sitting. ALcaraz may well have been feeling the effects of a tough match and battling his own injury, but plenty of viewers, including tennis legend John McEnroe, suggested the 21-year-old did not really believe the seriousness of Djokovic's injury.
It's not the first time the Serb has played through a tournament with an injury that would floor most other players. Djokovic famously won the 2023 title at Melbourne Park after claims he had a 3cm muscle tear in his hamstring. And speaking on Eurosport before the fourth set, McEnroe and tennis analyst James Blake suggested Alcaraz was trying to give Djokovic a taste of his own mind games by acting injured.
“He’s kind of limping around. Then he gets up and does it again," Blake said on Eurosport's coverage. "Limping around and sitting down. He’s obviously fine. Just acting like he’s got an injury. He’s being Novak.” The TV analyst clearly thought the frustrations had gotten the better of the Spaniard, with tennis great John McEnroe saying, "I don't blame him," as if to suggest that he was skeptical about Djokovic's injury too.
Carlos Alcaraz grabs his leg after losing the set to Djokovic at Australian Open
“He’s kind of limping around. Then he gets up & does it again. Limping around & sitting down. He’s obviously fine. Just acting like he’s got an injury”
“He’s being Novak.”
pic.twitter.com/maX3mDKPfa— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 21, 2025
Did Alcaraz mock Djokovic ???
— Aloha Girl 🌺🌴☀️ (@Tennislove91ND) January 21, 2025
Carlos Alcaraz mocks Novak Djokovic 👀👀👀#tennis #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/B1dEvf8Cl3
— FirstSportz Tennis (@FS_Tennis1) January 21, 2025
Ah no I see what they mean now. It’s because he grabbed his leg and limped a bit after the third set.. but I honestly think it’s because he himself is feeling some aches and pains.
Would be completely out of character for Alcaraz to mock Novak like that!— Chris Nolen (@LoveAsInZero) January 21, 2025
Alcaraz was mocking Novak when at a changeover he was limping and holding his leg/hip, right beside Novak!More and more the Spaniard is showing his true colours!🤫
— Ana (@Anafran007) January 21, 2025
These 'medical' time-outs just throw opponents off their game. Alcaraz was mocking Novak's 'injury' and ended up losing in 4 sets 🎾 #DarkArts
— Dale Gribble (@ShacklefordPI) January 21, 2025
Whether Alcaraz was mocking Djokovic or actually injured may never be known, but what is clear is that Djokovic has plenty of fight left in the twilight of his career. And the Serb is not ready just yet to pass the torch onto the next generation of stars such as Alcaraz after describing the epic four-set win as worthy of a final.
Novak Djokovic relieved after coming through injury scare
"I just wish this match today was a final," Djokovic said without going into detail about his injury. "One of the most epic matches I have played on this court, on any court really. If I lost the second set, I don't know if I would continue playing. I felt better and better and managed to play a great couple of games to end out the second set."
If Djokovic is able to win a record-extending 11th Australian Open title, it would make him the most successful singles player of all-time, breaking the record of 24 majors he shares with Australia's Margaret Court. Djokovic's next match is a mouthwatering semi-final against German second seed Alexander Zverev, who beat American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/1) 7-6 (7/0) 2-6 6-1.
Zvervev is aiming to win his first major title but if Djokovic can get past Zverev, it would be his 100th win at the Australian Open. World No.1 Jannik Sinner could be all that stands between him and becoming the undisputed greatest of all-time but the Italian of course has to get past local favourite Alex de Minaur in Wednesday night's quarter-final first.
with AAP