Carlos Alcaraz with NBA star Jimmy Butler© AFP

A vintage Novak Djokovic tamed Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night blockbuster to set up an Australian Open semi-final with Alexander Zverev as two-time women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought on. The 37-year-old Djokovic rolled back the years at the scene of his greatest achievements on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 triumph sealed close to 1:00 am. The Serb surged into the semi-finals and a date with world number two Zverev to edge closer to an 11th Melbourne crown and all-time record 25th Slam title.

With former rival Andy Murray now in his coaching corner, Djokovic was at his imperious and defiant best, cupping his ear to the crowd after winning big points.

Djokovic was at the centre of a row on Monday after he demanded an apology — and got one — from a local TV presenter for what he called “insulting and offensive comments”.

Spain’s world number three Alcaraz will have to wait another year to get a kangaroo tattoo. He had vowed to get one if he won the Australian Open for the first time.

The 21-year-old four-time major champion has still never been beyond the Melbourne Park last eight.

Former number one Djokovic extended his career advantage over Alcaraz to 5-3, having also beaten him in the Paris Olympics final in their last meeting.

Alcaraz got the better of his rival in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals.

In hot and windy conditions, Germany’s Zverev defeated the American Tommy Paul 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 to step up his quest to win a Grand Slam for the first time.

The 27-year-old lost his cool at one point — because of a feather.

The umpire called for a replay when the feather drifted in front of him as he played a shot at a critical juncture.

“C’mon, that is unbelievable on break point,” he shouted, before taking out his fury on Paul by breaking to love.

World number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner plays home hope Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Thursday, the winner facing American 21st seed Ben Shelton or the unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Sabalenka will face Paula Badosa in the last four as the Belarusian bids to win the Australian Open for a third time in a row, something last achieved 26 years ago by Martina Hingis.

The world number one kept that dream alive but had to battle for it in beating Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the wind.

“Honestly I was just praying, trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions,” said Sabalenka.

“I’m just super happy I was able to somehow magically win this match.”

At 33, Pavlyuchenkova had been enjoying a late-career renaissance and was the oldest remaining woman in the draw.

Sabalenka next plays Badosa, the Spanish 11th seed who stunned world number three Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4.

Badosa is into her first Slam semi-final at the age of 27.

“I’m a bit emotional,” said Badosa. “I’m a very emotional person. I wanted to play my best game. I think I did it.” 

It capped a remarkable comeback for the Spaniard, who was ranked outside the top 100 a year ago after a stress fracture in her back.

“I mean, a year ago, I was here with my back and I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport, and now I’m here playing against the best in the world,” said Badosa.

Third-seeded American Gauff, 20, described herself as “disappointed but not completely crushed” after her first defeat of 2025.

On Wednesday, Iga Swiatek will look to continue her march to a first Australian Open title when she faces Emma Navarro.

The winner plays Madison Keys or Elina Svitolina in the last four.

Australian Open: Djokovic and Alcaraz LIVE Score© AFP

Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz Australian Open Men’s Singles Quarterfinals, Live Streaming: World No.7 Novak Djokovic is all set to square off against Carlos Alcaraz in the blockbuster men’s singles quarterfinal match of the Australian Open 2025 on Tuesday. Alcaraz, 21, and Djokovic, 37, will meet at this stage of a Grand Slam for the first time in a heavyweight late-night clash on Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic is looking for his 100th tournament title and a record 25th Grand Slam crown. But Alcaraz won their last two Slam encounters, the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals, and is already a four-time major winner.

When will the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match take place?

The Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Where will the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match be held?

The Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match will be held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

What time will the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match start?

The Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match will start at 2:40 PM (IST).

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match?

The Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match will telecasted live on the Sony Sports network.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match?

The Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz, Australian Open men’s singles quarterfinals match will be live streamed on the SonyLiv and JioTV App and Website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

Carlos Alcaraz stayed on course for a blockbuster Australian Open quarter-final with Novak Djokovic when marathon man Jack Draper retired during their last-16 clash on Sunday. The Spanish third seed was well on top when the Briton threw in the towel when down 7-5, 6-1 on a sweltering Rod Laver Arena. The 15th-seeded Draper needed five sets to win his first three Melbourne matches, rallying from behind in all of them to stay in the tournament. He had spent nearly 13 hours on court to Alcaraz’s six and it finally caught up with him.

“It’s not the way I wanted to win. But obviously I’m happy to play another quarter-final here in Australia,” said Alcaraz, who is bidding to win the title for the first time.

“But a little bit sad, you know, for Jack. He’s really a nice person, he doesn’t deserve to get injured.”

Draper pulled out of the United Cup in the lead-up to Melbourne with a hip injury.

Alcaraz is into the last eight at Melbourne Park for the second successive year.

He has never gone further — beaten in 2024 by Alexander Zverev — and will have to beat either Djokovic or Czech Jiri Lehecka, who play later, to do so.

The Australian Open is the only major missing from four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz’s collection.

Should he go all the way, he will become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam — winning all four majors — in the Open Era and the youngest to win in Australia since Djokovic in 2008.

“I’m happy with the level I’m playing. On the court and off the court I’m feeling really comfortable here,” he said.

“Physically, I’m feeling great. So coming into the second week of a Grand Slam it is important to feel well physically because right now the matches are even tougher.

“But I am ready.”

Alcaraz was beaten by Draper when they last met, on the grass of Queen’s Club in 2024, but with the hot sun pounding down in Melbourne his booming groundstrokes caused instant problems for the Briton.

The opening set went on serve until the Spaniard seized an opportunity in the sixth game to break on the back of two net winners.

Draper kept plugging away and his persistence paid off with a break to haul back to 5-4 before Alcaraz broke once more to take control again.

The Briton slumped 3-0 behind in the second set and was clearly struggling, finally pulling the pin when he lost the set.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with talented teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday while Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set before surging into the last 16. Also on day six in Melbourne, men’s second seed Alexander Zverev staked his claim for a first major title with a third straight-sets victory. Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka can later set up a blockbuster clash and Novak Djokovic steps up his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam crown.

Women’s number one Sabalenka was made to work hard behind a faltering serve before beating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the third round on Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka was broken four straight times at the start of the match but found her groove to win 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 after more than two hours of attritional tennis.

“I’m just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win,” said Sabalenka, who is chasing a rare third Melbourne title in a row.

Her win puts her into a clash against highly rated 17-year-old Andreeva, the 14th seed, who beat Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech in three sets.

Russia’s Andreeva announced her burgeoning talent by beating Sabalenka in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year.

Alcaraz, who raced into the last 32 for the loss of just 12 games, suffered a wobble in the third set against Portugal’s unseeded Nuno Borges.

But the Spanish third seed, who has won four majors but never been beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, regained his focus to ease through 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.

Germany’s Zverev also booked his place in the second week of the opening Grand Slam of the year with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.

Zverev came into Melbourne at a career-high number two ranking and has not dropped a set in three matches at the tournament.

Djokovic and Alcaraz are on track for a quarter-final clash.

Ten-time champion Djokovic must first dispose of Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac in a prime-time evening match to reach the last 16.

Jakub Mensik, the Czech teenager who shocked sixth seed Casper Ruud in round two, will make his bid to reach the second week against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Gauff-Osaka collision course

American third seed Gauff had to battle back from 5-3 down in the second set against Britain’s Jodie Burrage in round two after dropping her serve three times.

She knows she will need to improve against former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, even though she recently beat the Canadian at the United Cup.

“Obviously I did well at the United Cup. It’s a different match, different story. Anything can happen,” said Gauff, who plays in the night session on Margaret Court Arena.

Awaiting the victor will be either two-time Melbourne champion Osaka or Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist.

Following two tough three-set wins in Melbourne, Osaka is in the third round of a Slam for the first time since the birth of her daughter in 2023.

Former world number four Bencic only returned to the circuit in December after her own maternity leave, but has not dropped a set so far.

“She’s an incredibly tough player. She fights a lot,” said Osaka.

“I think it’s really cool that she also had a baby and she came back as well.”

In other women’s draw early action, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova swept past Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who stunned Zheng Qinwen in the second round, 6-1, 6-2.

The Russian 27th seed will face Croatian 18th seed Donna Vekic for a place in the quarter-finals.

Vekic outlasted another Russian, 12th seed Diana Shnaider, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (3/7), 7-5 in the day’s first match on Margaret Court Arena

Seventh seed Jessica Pegula, the US Open finalist last year, takes on Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.

Rampant four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz dropped just five games in an ominous display of strength at the Australian Open on Wednesday to sprint into the third round. The Spanish third seed showed no mercy to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who was taught a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 lesson on Margaret Court Arena in an 81-minute rout. “The less time you spend on court in the Grand Slams, especially in the beginning, it is going to be better,” said Alcaraz, who won Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year but is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

“Physically I’m feeling great and I was just focused with spending as little time as I can on court.”  

He is bidding to become the youngest men’s winner in Australia since Novak Djokovic won the first of his 10 titles in 2008.

Should he do so, Alcaraz will also be the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, with his sizzling form so far boding well for the 21-year-old.

He eased through his first-round match in straight sets and came out firing against the 65th-ranked Nishioka.

The Japanese player could barely get his racquet on the ball in the first set, winning just two from 16 points at the baseline and only four points in the entire set.

Alcaraz tweaked his serve in the off-season and is in Melbourne with a lighter racquet, with the dividends evident.

He pounded down five aces in the second set and won a formidable 91 percent of his first-serve points to give Nishioka no chance.

“I’m really happy with the serve today. It’s something I worked on in the pre-season,” he said.

“In the first round I struggled a bit. But I spent more time yesterday practising my serve, it’s something I really want to be better.

“I’m really glad that today it worked pretty well and hopefully in the next round it’s going to be better.”

The Japanese player did his best to make a match of it in the third set, but the gulf in class was too wide with the win a formality.

Novak Djokovic returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs this week at the Australian Open, adamant he is ready and able to see off the challenge from Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam crown. Chinks in the armour of the 37-year-old former world number one were exposed last year when he failed to clinch a major title for the first time since 2017, although he did win Olympic gold. The Serb’s fallibility was again on show when he was bundled out of the Brisbane International last week in the quarter-finals by American Reilly Opelka. 

But with fellow great Rafael Nadal joining Roger Federer in retirement, Djokovic is fired up to prove he still has what it takes against the young brigade.

Djokovic has brought in former rival Andy Murray as coach in an eye-catching move that he hopes will give him a winning edge.

“The way I’m feeling, I still think that I can go strong for years to come,” said Djokovic, now ranked seven in the world.

“I still love this sport and I still love competing.

“I’m ready to compete, whatever it takes, however many hours it takes with the youngsters.”

Few would bet against Djokovic on the blue hardcourts of Melbourne Park, where he has long been a dominant force, winning a record 10 titles. 

Another would give him 25 major crowns to move him clear of Margaret Court as the outright leader.

Djokovic’s stamina and skill will be put to the ultimate test against world number one and defending champion Sinner, just 23, and Alcaraz, already a four-time Slam winner at 21.

While Djokovic warmed up in Brisbane, Italy’s Sinner and Spaniard Alcaraz opted against any competitive action with exhibition matches in Melbourne this week their main preparation.

Sinner won his maiden Slam in Australia last year, battling back from two sets down to beat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev.

It lit the fuse to a sensational season where he became the first player since Federer in 2005 to go the year without a defeat in straight sets.

He made the semis at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, won the US Open and ATP Finals, and surged to the top of the rankings.

But Sinner will start his defence under a doping cloud after twice testing positive for a banned steroid in March.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted his argument that the substance entered his system due to contamination and opted not to suspend him.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and a verdict remains pending.

“Of course it’s in the head a little bit,” Sinner admitted after leading his country to the Davis Cup title in November.

Alcaraz won Wimbledon and the French Open last season to cement his status as the future of the game, along with Sinner.

But he has yet to perform to his full potential in Australia, with a quarter-final appearance in 2024 — where he was stunned by Alexander Zverev — his best effort.

According to reports in Spain, Alcaraz has switched to a heavier racquet in the off-season to generate more speed with his forehand on the Melbourne Park surface.

“Everything is an extra weapon to counteract the game of rivals such as Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, among others,” said his coach Samuel Lopez.

Germany’s Zverev is a threat again after winning the Rome and Paris Masters 1000 titles in recent months, which helped rocket him to two in the world.

He withdrew from the warm-up mixed-teams United Cup with a bicep strain but it was seen as precautionary as he targets a maiden Slam title.

The unpredictable Medvedev has reached three of the last four Australian Open finals and can never be discounted.

Like Sinner and Alcaraz, the Russian did not play a warm-up event and his early season form is an unknown.

Local fans will give strong backing to Alex de Minaur, the world number eight, and showman Nick Kyrgios, who made his long-awaited comeback in Brisbane last week after a lengthy injury layoff.

Kyrgios was knocked out in the first round and admitted he would “almost need a miracle” for his wrist to hold up through five sets. 

On Wednesday he pulled out of an exhibition match against Djokovic with an abdominal strain, casting fresh doubt on his fitness.

The Australian Open gets under way on Sunday.

A change of guard is underway in the world of tennis, as the era of legendary players slowly gives way to a new wave of talented youngsters. The sport is on the cusp of an exciting transformation, with the next generation of stars ready to take centre stage and forge their own paths to greatness. For India, the year started on a sweet note, with veteran Rohan Bopanna reaching the summit where he stood apart from the rest of his competitors.

In January, Bopanna became the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title after tasting success with his partner Matthew Ebden at the Rod Laver Arena by lifting their maiden Australian Open men’s doubles title as a team.

The Indian-Australian duo managed to oust the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori with a straight-set win to etch their names in history in golden letters.

His success became a sight to behold, especially after he climbed to a career-best world No. 1 in the latest ATP Double Rankings following his special win.

The partnership saw its ups and downs and drew its final breath in November. Bopanna and Ebden announced the end of their successful two-year partnership.

The duo, who began playing together in January 2023, claimed significant titles, including the Australian Open Grand Slam title and ATP Masters 1000 trophies at Indian Wells (2023) and Miami Open (2024).

As fans bid adieu to the renowned pair, the world was not ready to embrace what was next to follow. Spain’s prized tennis star Rafael Nadal decided to have his last dance and bring the curtain down on his 23-year-old career as a professional tennis player.

With the final shot hit and the last racket laid to rest, the tennis world pauses to bid farewell to a legend, Rafael Nadal, who rewrote tennis history with his tenacious spirit, relentless dedication, and unmatched greatness, has played his final match.

One of the greatest to grace the sport, the “Spain’s Raging Bull” left an everlasting impression on his admirers and his rivals.

The King of Clay had his swansong in November during the Davis Cup and bowed out with 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open singles titles.

He also won the Australian Open twice in 2009 and 2022, Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010. He was also successful in the US Open, winning the title four times in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. In Roland-Garros, the Spaniard defended his crown 10 times and recorded a staggering 97 per cent win percentage.

His fierce competitiveness, sportsmanship, and humility have made him a beloved figure, transcending the sport itself.

Even after his retirement as a champion, role model, and ambassador, Nadal’s legacy will continue to inspire and influence the world of tennis for years to come.

Before Nadal’s retirement, the two-time Olympic gold medal winner Andy Murray also called his time. In his decorated career, Murray lifted 46 singles titles.

Murray won his first Olympic gold medal in 2012 after defeating Roger Federer in the final. Four years later, he bagged his second at Rio by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro. The Briton tennis star’s three Grand Slam titles include two at Wimbledon (in 2013 and 2016), and one at the US Open (in 2012).

In a year where memorable careers met their end, some icons lived their dreams. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic turned his ultimate dream into reality by winning his first Olympic gold, completing prestigious ‘Golden Slam’, by overcoming Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In a clash between the experienced tennis icon and the young Alcaraz, who brims with talent, Djokovic realised his ultimate dream by getting his hands on the first Olympic gold medal of his illustrious career.

While Alcaraz savoured defeat, he found some solace in defending his Wimbledon title before landing in Paris. Alcaraz won his second consecutive Wimbledon title after beating Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) at the centre court in London in July. The Spaniard became only the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back.

Along with Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner was another budding talent who made a case for being the next big thing in tennis. He kicked off the year perfectly after winning the Australian Open against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set encounter. The Italian player defeated the final match by 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and 6-3.

He topped his success in Australia by defeating Taylor Fritz of the United States in the final with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4, and 7-5 to lift his first US Open title.

Towards the end of the year, Sinner made history in the ATP Finals by becoming the first Italian champion in the tournament’s 55-year history following his comprehensive victory over Taylor Fritz.

Alexander Zverev in action© AFP