Australian Open: 'If I think about everything he's done, I couldn't play Djokovic' – Alcaraz

Alcaraz and Djokovic will do battle for a place in the semi-finals of the season's first grand slam on Tuesday.

A blockbuster match-up was confirmed after Alcaraz overcame Jack Draper, who withdrew injured after two sets, and Djokovic downed Jiri Lehecka.

The age gap of 15 years and 349 days will be the biggest between two competitors in a men's singles quarter-final at a grand slam since Jimmy Connors faced Andre Agassi at the US Open in 1989 (17 years, 239 days).

A legend joins a legend#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/DrrGkdcyww

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2025

Alcaraz and Djokovic have met seven times, with the latter edging the head-to-head record with four wins.

Djokovic won their last meeting to claim Olympic gold in Paris last year, though two of Alcaraz's three victories have come in successive Wimbledon finals (2023 and 2024).

Asked how he copes with going up against a player as successful as Djokovic, Alcaraz told reporters: "I'm trying not to think about it. If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn't play him!

"Twenty-four grand slams, the most weeks at number one. He's almost broken every record in tennis.

"I try not to think about that when I'm in the match. I'm just thinking that I'm able to beat him. I know my weapons. I know that I'm able to play good tennis against him, I'm able to beat him.

"That's all I'm thinking when I'm facing him. I think every player [has to think that] when they face Novak, just play and believe in themselves."

64 - Only John McEnroe (65) secured more Men's Singles Grand Slam wins in the Open Era after his first 75 such matches than Carlos Alcaraz (64). Hurried.#AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @atptour pic.twitter.com/hbNusnFC0Z

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 19, 2025

Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion, but has been seeded seventh in this edition of the tournament, throwing up the possibility of a reunion with Alcaraz at a much earlier stage of a competition than they would usually face each other.

"Well, this is not the right player to play in a quarter-final, I guess," Alcaraz said.

"I think at a grand slam, from quarter-finals to the final, those players are the best in the world. If it wasn't Djokovic in the quarter-final, it could be another player who is at the top of the rankings.

"But facing Novak, for me, it's not going to change anything. I'm going to approach the match the same as I did in the previous matches against him, and let's see."