Alcaraz on Djokovic quarter-final: “Not the right player to be facing!”

The pair will meet for the eighth time when they play in the quarter-final in Melbourne

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at Roland-Garros in 2023 (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)

January 19, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has faced off against Novak Djokovic in seven previous matches: three semi-finals and four finals.

Their eighth encounter will be earlier in a tournament than ever before – in the quarter-final of the 2025 Australian Open.

Djokovic edges the head-to-head 4-3, and won their only previous meeting on outdoor hard court (in Cincinnati in 2023), but the Spaniard has won two of their three meetings at Grand Slams.

After doing his bit to get through to the last eight, winning against Jack Draper via walkover, Alcaraz was inevitably peppered with questions about the likelihood of playing Djokovic once more, and was both ambivalent and confident.

“Well, this is not the right player to play in a quarter-final, I guess,” Alcaraz smiled when asked in a press conference about the prospect of playing the 24-time Grand Slam champion next.

“I think in a Grand Slam, from quarter-finals to the final, those players are the best in the world. If it wasn’t Djokovic in the quarter-final, it could be another players who are in top of the ranking, top of the world.

“But facing Novak, for me it’s not going to change anything if I’m playing him on quarter-final or semi-final. Probably change a little bit if it is a final obviously.

“Being in a quarter-final, I’m going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let’s see.”

Alcaraz: I know my weapons

The 21-year-old also spoke about Djokovic’s tennis legacy, saying: “I’m trying not to think about that. If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn’t play. I mean, 24 Grand Slam, the most weeks at No 1, everything. He almost broke every record in tennis. I’m trying not to think about that when I’m in the match. I’m just trying that I’m able to beat him.

“I know my weapons. I know that I’m able to play a good tennis against him, I’m able to beat him. That’s all I’m thinking when I’m facing him.

“I think every player or the best players thinks when they facing Novak, just playing and believing in their selves.”