Novak Djokovic will compete in his fifteenth Australian Open quarter-final! The 37-year-old remained on the title course in Melbourne following a rock-solid 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 overcome an in-form Jiri Lehecka. The reward? The quarter-final conflict towards Carlos Alcaraz!
Djokovic will compete in his 61st Main quarter-final, remaining aggressive nearly 19 years after embracing his first at Roland Garros 2006! As all of us wished, Novak and Carlos will combat for the fourth time at Majors, the primary on the exhausting courtroom.
The Serb made the distinction with the second serve. He confronted solely three break factors and suffered one break. He stored the stress on the Czech and supplied three breaks from 11 alternatives. Lehecka sprayed over 40 unofrced errors and plagued his possibilities.
Djokovic tamed his strokes properly and outplayed his opponent in essentially the most prolonged rallies.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2025
Like many instances earlier than, the veteran made a dependable begin at Rod Laver Enviornment. World no. 7 supplied 5 good holds within the first set and stored the stress on the opposite facet. Novak prolonged the fourth recreation and generated a break probability.
Jiri stored his composure and fired an ace to disclaim it and keep away from an early setback. The Serb left that probability behind and served effectively in video games 5 and 7, firing an ace down the T line and opening a 4-3 hole. Novak stepped in on the return within the eighth recreation.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The ten-time champion welcomed a primary forehand error from his rival for 2 break possibilities. The legend seized the primary after Lehecka’s double fault and moved 5-3 in entrance. Djokovic served for the opener in recreation 9 and introduced it dwelling after Lehecka’s mistake.
Thus, the Serb clinched the opener 6-3 in 38 minutes and gained confidence. Novak took management early within the second set. He broke within the first recreation after Jiri’s forehand error, profiting from the quite a few unfastened photographs from the younger gun.
Jiri Lehecka & Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Djokovic confronted the primary break level within the second recreation. Lehecka sprayed it after one other horrible forehand, permitting the veteran to carry and cement the benefit. Jiri confronted two break factors within the fifth recreation, saving them and remaining inside one break deficit.
Novak served effectively and stored the stress on the opposite facet. World no. 7 generated two extra break factors in recreation seven. Jiri denied them with winners and held for 3-4. Djokovic landed an ace within the eighth recreation, holding and shifting nearer to the set.
Jiri Lehecka, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Serb served for it at 5-4 and drew the rival’s mistake for 3 set factors. Novak transformed the primary after portray one other ace down the T line, shifting 6-3, 6-4 up after an hour and a half! The younger gun hit a double fault within the first recreation of the third set to lose serve.
Lehecka stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. He secured a break at 15 after Djokovic’s backhand mistake and returned to the optimistic facet. Jiri saved a break level within the third recreation, and so they served effectively within the following three to lock the outcome at 3-3.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The younger Czech saved a break probability within the seventh recreation with an ace, holding and enhancing his possibilities. It was the final break level of the set, with the 2 rivals producing 5 comfy holds and introducing a tie break.
They traded mini-breaks within the opening two factors earlier than Djokovic moved 3-1 up. The Serb claimed two factors on serve and prolonged the hole to 5-2. Jiri recovered and claimed two factors behind the preliminary shot to climb again to 4-5.
Novak landed a volley winner on the web for 6-4 and two match factors. Jiri netted a routine backhand, propelling the legend into his fifteenth Australian Open quarter-final.
