Djokovic stages a stunning comeback to advance to the semifinals, where he'll face Zverev.
In the 2025 Australian Open men's singles quarterfinal, 10-time tournament champion and No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic staged a thrilling comeback victory over No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. This triumph marked Djokovic's 12th trip to the Australian Open semifinals—and his 50th Grand Slam semifinal appearance overall. He will now face Alexander Zverev in the battle for a spot in the final.
From the very start of the match, both players quickly ramped up the intensity, locking into an intense battle. Djokovic was in brilliant form, earning consecutive holds and breaks to take a 2-0 lead. But Alcaraz refused to back down, immediately striking back in the third game—breaking and holding—to level the score once again. In the crucial ninth game, Alcaraz converted his third break point, followed by a solid hold, clinching the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Djokovic's ability to rely on his signature sliding shots was severely hampered by a strained leg muscle. However, he quickly adjusted his strategy, engaging Alcaraz in an aggressive baseline battle and seizing a 3-0 lead. Alcaraz managed to break back in the fifth game, leveling the score at 3-all after holding serve following the break. In the crucial 10th game, Djokovic won four consecutive points to claim the break, rallying to win the set 6-4 and even the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Djokovic broke first in the 6th game to take a 4-2 lead. Alcaraz immediately broke back in the 7th game, narrowing the gap to 3-4. In the 8th game, Djokovic struck another break, and he then comfortably held his serve to close out the set 6-3, giving him a 2-1 lead overall.
In the fourth set, Djokovic continued his strong momentum, breaking and holding serve to take a 2-0 lead. Although Alcaraz fought hard to close the gap, Djokovic managed to hold his serve in the crucial eighth game, ultimately clinching the fourth set 6-4. This victory allowed Djokovic to complete a stunning 3-1 comeback win over Alcaraz.
In the semifinals, Djokovic and Zverev will face off for the 13th time, with Djokovic currently leading 8 wins to 4 losses. The Serbian tennis superstar aims to reach his 11th Australian Open final, while Zverev is gunning for his first-ever appearance in the Aussie championship decider. Find out who comes out on top when their semifinal clash unfolds on Friday!
