Novak Djokovic’s 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals keeps alive Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title. The 37-year-old prevailed after scrapping past an early setback and enduring a medical timeout, beating his 21-year-old opponent. Djokovic’s hardcourt mastery of Alcaraz continued, and now he awaits a record 50th Grand Slam semi-final, against Alexander Zverev.
It was a double upset Tuesday as Paula Badosa outlasted third seed Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 for her first Grand Slam semi-final and the first time since Garbine Muguruza in 2020 that a Spanish woman has reached this part of the Melbourne draw. The 11th-seeded Badosa, who was ranked out of the top 100 a year ago after injury derailed her career, was aggressive and consistent while Gauff lost her nerve when it mattered most.
The defending champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, to reach the final four. Sabalenka overcame blustery conditions and her opponent’s toughness to stretch her Melbourne win streak to 19 matches. She now meets her close friend Badosa, still alive in pursuit of a third consecutive Australian Open title.
