Novak Djokovic proved his class last night on the court in his five-set epic over Jannik Sinner, but the 10-time Australian Open champion has also showed his class off it after acknowledging Carlos Alcaraz after his five hour victory. The two men’s tennis semi-finals on Friday will go down as one of the most dramatic days in Australian Open history with both matches going five sets.
Alcaraz overcame cramp, and claims from Jim Courier he should not have been afforded a controversial medical timeout, to defeat Alexander Zverev in a five-hour epic. Alcaraz and Zverev shuffled off the court absolutely exhausted after giving it their all on Rod Laver Arena.
Cameras picked up Novak Djokovic acknowledging Carlos Alcaraz (pictured right) in the players gym after his five hour victory over Alexander Zverev. (Image: Australian Open)
Zverev admitted he had ‘nothing left’ in him, while Alcaraz claimed he was never going to give up in arguably the most demanding match of his young career. This was despite his inability to break into a sprint for two sets after suffering from cramp. Alcaraz’s epic victory delayed the start of Djokovic and Sinner’s semi-final with the tennis world stopping to watch the 22-year-old achieve history.
Djokovic was even seen watching Alcaraz battle through cramp backstage as the cameras picked up his team just as enthralled with the drama as fans. And Djokovic wanted to show his appreciation for Alcaraz after reaching his first ever Australian Open final.
Cameras in the players gym showed Djokovic approaching Alcaraz and his team only minutes after his victory. The 38-year-old embraced Alcaraz as the 22-year-old was winding down after being on the court for more than 5 hours and 27 minutes.
Djokovic has been there and done that at the Australian Open and knows what it takes to win. And it turns out Alcaraz will now be meeting Djokovic again backstage at Rod Laver Arena before the final after the Serbian defeated Sinner in their own epic that finished close to 2am.
Carlos Alcaraz never thought about retiring
Many fans were wondering if Alcaraz thought about retiring in his 6-4 7-6 6-7 6-7 7-5 victory. The Spaniard was struggling in the third set and limited his running for the next hour and a half. This saw Zverev take the match to a fifth and final set.
Although the Spaniard fought, after reserving his energy, and managed to break back and take the match. And while there were doubts over whether he could finish the match in the soaring temperatures, Alcaraz admitted he was never going to retire.
“Believing. Believing all the time,” Alcaraz said. “I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what, no matter what you’re struggling, what you’ve been through.
“No matter anything, you’ve still got to believe in yourself all the time. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically, it was one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career, I would say. But I’ve been in these kind of situations. I’ve been in these kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do,” Alcaraz added. “I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it. I fought until the last ball.”
Alcaraz is now one win away from becoming the youngest male player ever to win a career grand slam. Except 10-time Australian Open champion Djokovic is standing in his way with the 38-year-old carrying the experience into their final.
Novak Djokovic (pictured) reached the Australian Open final after defeating Jannik Sinner in the semi-final.
(IZHAR KHAN via Getty Images)