Novak Djokovic overcomes Carlos Alcaraz but ‘concerned’ by injury after epic Australian Open clash – live

The Australian Open quarter-finals are underway, with the opening grand slam of the season bursting with storylines as the second week of the tournament progresses.

Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka return as defending champions and both World No 1s remain the favourites to defend their titles.

But the challengers will be up for the fight, as Novak Djokovic set up a semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev on the men’s side and Iga Swiatek looking strong on the women’s.

Djokovic’s win against Alcaraz was the match of the tournament so far, but there are set to be plenty of more twists and turns before finals weekend.

Aryna Sabalenka will face close friend Paula Badosa in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after battling to victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The two-time defending champion’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park looked in serious danger when she lost the second set on a windy Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka struggled to control her emotions and Pavlyuchenkova twice went an early break up in the deciding set but ultimately the top seed’s power carried her to a 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory.

Sabalenka has now made at least the last four at seven of her last eight grand slam tournaments – she missed Wimbledon last summer through injury.

Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev after the German reached his third Australian Open semi-final with a four-set win over American Tommy Paul, but only after a farcical row with the umpire over a feather dropping onto the court.

The second seed, who is bidding for a first grand slam title, had lost both his previous two meetings against Paul but proved the stronger in the big moments to win 7-6 (1) 7-6 (0) 2-6 6-1.

But when a break down in the second set, trailing 4-2, Paul sent a serve down at deuce, but just as the rally developed a feather dropped onto the court before the German could strike a sliced backhand.

Umpire Forcadell called let and ordered the players to replay the point, sparking an angry response from Zverev.

Novak Djokovic said he chose to turn to Andy Murray after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as a “gesture of appreciation” for his coach.

Djokovic defied an upper leg injury to defeat Alcaraz in four sets in a battle the 10-time champion described as one of the fiercest he has fought in Melbourne.

After winning match point at nearly 1am, Djokovic turned to his coaching box and roared directly at Murray before shaking hands with Alcaraz at the net.

Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he made a “big mistake” in his Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic when he saw his opponent was struggling with injury during the second set.

Djokovic managed to battle from a set down to reach a 12th Australian Open in a vintage display from the 37-year-old, but Alcaraz said he let the Serbian back into the match by taking his foot off the gas in the second set.

Djokovic took a medical timeout late in the first set, leaving the court before returning with strapping around his left leg, and Alcaraz said he thought the match against the 24-time grand slam champion would be “easier” from there.

Djokovic admitted he would have retired from the match had he gone two sets down to Alcaraz, but he started to play more aggressively in the rallies and survived to level the match before the painkillers kicked in at the start of the third set.

Novak Djokovic has revealed that he was almost forced to retire from his “epic” quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.

Djokovic secured victory in a thrilling last eight clash in four sets, fighting back from a set down while battling an injury.

The 24-time grand slam champion took an injury timeout at the end of the first set as Alcaraz nudged in front and appeared in severe discomfort, but roared back to take the match in a vintage performance.

But the 37-year-old Serb contemplated not continuing at all as Alcaraz threatened to build a two-set advantage, with only his resurgence in levelling the match encouraging him to keep playing.

When Carlos Alcaraz saw his great rival Novak Djokovic limp off the court towards the end of the first set of their blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final, the 21-year-old admitted to feeling a sense of relief. Alcaraz’s experience of the Olympics final at Roland Garros, where Djokovic raised his level to win his elusive gold medal last summer in a hugely emotional defeat for the young Spaniard, ensured he needed no reminder of how fearsome an opponent the 37-year-old remains when fully fit.

But as Djokovic struggled to move from side to side, let alone return his groundstrokes on the run or hit through his opponent from the back of the court, Alcaraz’s shoulders relaxed. Djokovic, head down, exited the Rod Laver Arena for a medical timeout, returning after several minutes with heavy strapping around his upper left leg. A few moments later, Alcaraz wrapped up the first set; having beaten Djokovic in consecutive Wimbledon finals over best-of-five, it looked a long way back for the 10-time Australian Open champion.

But Alcaraz will not forget what happened next.

Novak Djokovic proved himself the Melbourne Park master once again with a brilliant late-night victory over young pretender Carlos Alcaraz.

The 10-time Australian Open champion is only two wins away from a record-breaking 25th grand slam title after a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 success completed at 12.57am that will have put the whole locker room on notice.

A potential concern for Djokovic, who next plays second seed Alexander Zverev in what will be his 50th slam semi-final, is a left leg problem that required treatment during the opening set, but he seemed to improve physically as the match went on.

Novak Djokovic reveals why he turned to celebrate with Andy Murray after winning match point against Carlos Alcaraz.

“I feel more and more connected with Andy every day. We face challenges every single day. People don’t see that obviously.

“We try to make the most out of every day and grow together. He’s been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be.

“So it was kind of a gesture of appreciation, respect for him, and the fact that he’s out there, and he doesn’t need to be.

“He accepted to work with me. He’s giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work.

“This was a huge win for all of us, including Andy and myself, you know, for the relationship. Yeah, that’s why I went to him, because I just felt very grateful that he’s there.”

Novak Djokovic admitted he is “concerned” by his left leg injury as attention now turns to Friday’s Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

“I have to assess the situation tomorrow when I wake up. I will try to do as much as I possibly can with my recovery team, with my physio today, tomorrow, the next few days. Probably skip training tomorrow.

“I’ll see if I’m going to train in two days or not. I’ll take it day by day. Now it’s really about recovery.

“I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be.

“This match drains both players. Almost three and a half, four hours of incredible battle, of high intensity, of course it has its toll.

“At the same time I think it has more toll on the physical side rather than mental and emotional. Actually it feels like you’re feeding off this kind of win.

“That’s how I feel now. I hope to be able physically to be moving freely and to be able to be ready to play five sets.”