Novak Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of greatness reached another milestone in Melbourne, as the Serbian maestro powered past Jiri Lehecka in straight sets to secure a much-anticipated Australian Open quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
On a sunlit evening inside the iconic Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic delivered a near-flawless performance to dismantle the 24th-seeded Czech, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). The two-hour, 39-minute masterclass not only propelled the 37-year-old into his 15th Australian Open quarter-final — equaling Roger Federer’s record — but reaffirmed his dominance on the hard-court stage where he has already claimed 10 titles.
“I felt great,” Djokovic reflected post-match, speaking to Eurosport. “A couple of hiccups here and there, but I think I handled the pressure moments well and played some great points towards the end.”
The Czech, known for his powerful strokes, showed flashes of brilliance but faltered in key moments, amassing 44 unforced errors to Djokovic’s 21. The opening set was decided by a disastrous service game from Lehecka, including three unforced errors and a double fault that handed Djokovic the decisive break at 4-3.
To his credit, Lehecka displayed grit, breaking Djokovic’s serve for the first time early in the final set. However, the Serbian’s vast experience and superior movement — including a trademark sliding winner on a Lehecka drop volley in the tie-break — proved insurmountable.
Looking ahead, Djokovic’s quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz promises to be a thriller. Alcaraz, who advanced after Jack Draper retired injured, has emerged as one of Djokovic’s fiercest rivals, with the pair tied 4-3 in their head-to-head record.
Though the Spaniard has won two of their last three Grand Slam meetings, this will be their first encounter on a hard court at this level — a surface where Djokovic reigns supreme.
The stage is set for a generational battle: Djokovic, the ageless titan with his eyes on an 11th Australian Open title, versus Alcaraz, the fiery 20-year-old prodigy hungry to carve his legacy.
