Novak Djokovic, who defeated Jiri Lehecka, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4), starred within the biggest rivalry in historical past with Rafael Nadal within the first three a long time of the twenty first century. With the latter’s retirement, the Serb now has to cope with one other Spaniard. Carlos Alcaraz has taken over from Rafa and is the brand new headache for Nole. The Balkan ended up tipping the steadiness in his favor within the head-to-head with Nadal, by 31 to 29. He additionally dominates the precedents with Carlitos: 4-3.
“I am not going to say that I am particularly wanting ahead to taking part in Djokovic within the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, I am not going to lie. It isn’t that I am afraid. Nevertheless it’s true that if you wish to be the perfect it’s important to beat the perfect or the perfect. Whenever you get to the quarter-finals each spherical is a battle,” mirrored the world quantity three.
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On Tuesday, it is going to be 170 days for the reason that final assembly between the 2 within the Olympic remaining in Paris. That was on clay and this time they are going to meet on laborious court docket, one thing that’s unprecedented of their head-to-head conferences within the majors. “I attempt not to consider what Novak has gained as a result of in any other case I could not play,” mentioned the teenager from El Palmar.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil arrives contemporary to the event, amongst different issues as a result of his opponent within the spherical of 16, Jack Draper, threw within the towel on account of the identical hip harm (tendinitis) that prevented him from touring to Villena in preseason to coach along with his good friend Carlitos. “You are going to be the place you should be quickly. Get properly quickly,” Alcaraz wrote on the digital camera.
The match ended with a rating of 7-5, 6-1 in favor of the Spaniard, after 1 hour and 35 minutes of play.
Two factors from the set
Djokovic, within the afternoon session on the Rod Laver Area, was spared the sweltering warmth. Lehecka clung to his sturdy hitting and was two factors away from successful the third set, at 5-4 and 30-30. He gave up within the tiebreaker
At 37 years and 249 days, he equalled Roger Federer’s report of appearances (15) within the Australian Open quarter-finals. Solely Ken Rosewall and Federer surpassed his longevity among the many prime eight within the Australian event. Recovered from a knee harm and with Andy Murray in his nook, he’s a risk to the brand new era. Particularly on a taking part in floor on which he was topped 10 instances
