The Times of India in Melbourne: Novak Djokovic’s genius is in making the opponent play the ball, again and again, one more time, every time. The 37-year-old, persistent and precise, uses his racket like a surgeon’s scalpel.
On Tuesday, at the other end of the Rod Laver Arena was Carlos Alcaraz of the dazzling gifts. The 21-year-old has danced the dance Djokovic has led, but as the Spaniard learnt on a cold, windy night in the Australian Open, 50 winners isn’t nearly enough when it’s Djokovic on the other side.
The 24-time major winner, who had the fans on their feet during the three-hour 37-minute contest, powered into his 12th semi-final at Melbourne Park and a record extending 50th in Grand Slams with a heroic 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win in 3-hours and 38 minutes.
Djokovic, who appeared to tweak his left groin during the ninth game of the match, left the court for treatment after flashing a concerned look at his box. When the seventh seed returned some five minutes later, his left quad was strapped.
“I just wish that this match today was the final,” Djokovic said.” One of the most epic matches I’ve played on any court.”
Djokovic, who rushed to hug his coach Andy Murray after the win, didn’t want to divulge details about his injury as he was still in the tournament.
“The medication started to kick in and it helped no doubt,” Djokovic said. “If I lost that second set I don’t know if I would continue playing, but I felt better and better. I managed to play a great couple of games to end the second set. I saw Carlos was hesitant a little bit from the back of the court. It didn’t bother me, it didn’t create any hindrance towards the end of the match, only in that second set.”
The Serb added, “I’ll see what the reality is tomorrow morning, but right now I’ll just try to be in the moment and enjoy this victory.”
Like in the opening set, Djokovic broke in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the second set, but unlike in the first, Djokovic, limping between points, extended the lead to 3-0. To the 21-year-old’s credit, Alcaraz pulled back, 3-3 and then 4-4.
As a humid, 32-degree day melted into a cold evening, Djokovic couldn’t be stopped, he stepped up to lock up the set.
While Djokovic’s movement improved in the third set, Alcaraz’ play was up and down, the Spaniard going for too much, and Djokovic, the old master of craft and cunning, pushed him to go over. By the end of the third set it was Alcaraz who was struggling with cramps.
“I was controlling the match and I let him back into the match,” Alcaraz said, “that is the biggest mistake I made. When you see someone struggling physically, kind of not playing the same level, it seems like it's going to be easier. At the same time in your mind you're thinking, I have not to make mistakes. Probably you're not hitting the ball the same way that you're hitting before.”
In the semi-finals on Friday, Djokovic, the ten-time champion, plays the second seeded German Alexander Zverev, who beat American Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1 in three-hours and 28-minutes.
