Djokovic sets up Alcaraz clash, Sabalenka surges into Melbourne quarters

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MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic cruised to a stunning victory over Carlos Alcaraz in his Australian Open quarter-final clash on Sunday as women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka ran out ruthless winners.

Two-time defending champion Sabalenka is on course to clash with in-form world number three Coco Goff in the semi-finals in Melbourne if both win in the last eight. With temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) on the hottest day of the tournament so far, Alcaraz came through as Great Britain’s Jack Draper retired injured.

Djokovic, 37, then upheld his bid with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win over Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehka in a prime-time match at Rod Laver Arena. . Djokovic is expecting a “big battle” against Alcaraz on Tuesday.

“The kind of matches I played against him reminded me of the match against (Rafael) Nadal in terms of intensity and energy on the court,” he said. Djokovic appears to be heading into the tournament as an ominous sign for his rivals, as he chases a record 11th Melbourne crown and historic 25th Grand Slam title.

He dropped a set in each of his opening two matches but has won the last two in straight sets. Djokovic and Alcaraz have played each other seven times with the Serb leading 4-3, including a victory in their last encounter in the final at the Paris Olympics.

But they have never played at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has achieved his greatest success. “When we watch him play, it’s like he’s rejuvenated … it’s unbelievable. He’s in really good shape,” said Alcaraz, who got a kangaroo tattoo when he won the Australian Open for the first time. What is the commitment?

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has never advanced past the quarter-finals in Melbourne, was leading 7-5, 6-1 when Draper pulled the plug. Draper had come in five sets in each of his previous three matches, all 2-1 down, and seemed to have taken his toll. “It’s not the way I wanted to win, but obviously I’m happy to play another quarterfinal in Australia,” Alcaraz said.

Draper, 23, whose rise has been stunted by his body issues, said his hip injury was a “ticking time bomb” and that he was “really sore in multiple areas”. American 12th seed Tommy Paul saw off Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in just three games as he bids to reach or better the semi-finals from 2023.

Paul will meet German second seed Alexander Xavier, who survived a mid-match slump to knock out France’s Hugo Humbert. Zuriv, who is chasing a first Grand Slam title, won 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Sabalenka gave a chilling warning of a clean sweep in the quarter-finals by defeating 17-year-old Mira Andreeva of Russia 6-1, 6-2. The Belarusian was out on center court for just 62 minutes before registering an 18th consecutive win at Melbourne Park.

“I’m very happy to get this tough match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka, who faces 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia. Sabalenka struggled with her serve in the cold conditions during the first week, but was not untouched by the rising mercury.

“The ball was flying like a rocket,” Sabalenka said. A dangerous gaffe faced Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa after the American defeated Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Goff dropped a set for the first time in 2025 but extended her unbeaten streak to 13 matches dating back to last year’s WTA Tour Finals. “Two out of three sets is not physically difficult for me at this stage in my career,” said Goff, 20, who is chasing his first Melbourne title.

“In the offseason I’ve only done so much physically so I’m not worried at all about recovering emotionally or mentally.” Badosa declared that she “loves” Goff — but said that won’t stop her from seeking “revenge.”

The pair have a 3-3 head-to-head record but Goff won both of their meetings in 2024, each in three sets. The last time was in the semifinals of the WTA China Open in Beijing, where Goff won 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 en route to the title.