Djokovic versus Alcaraz is a blockbuster quarterfinal matchup -- and one worthy of the Australian Open final. Who will win? We take a closer look.
Jake Michaels is a Melbourne-based sports writer. He has been with ESPN since 2013, covering everything from AFL to Formula One, basketball to boxing, and tennis, both in Australia and around the world.could not have articulated it better when asked to share his thoughts on the upcoming Australian Open quarterfinal battle againstAt any tennis tournament on the planet, this heavyweight matchup would be a worthy and highly anticipated final.
After dropping sets in both his first- and second-round matches of the tournament, Djokovic looks to have found his groove once more. He has won eight consecutive sets, displayed fierce ballstriking and that trademark defense en route to the quarterfinals.in straight sets, that encourages me to believe I can win against any opponent really on a good day when I'm feeling my best," Djokovic said after his fourth-round win.
At 21, Alcaraz is an extraordinary 16 years the junior of Djokovic, and those fresh, young legs should hold him in good stead against the king of Melbourne Park. Not only that, but Alcaraz has spent significantly less time on court throughout the first four rounds: seven hours and 45 minutes, compared with Djokovic's 11 hours.
The Spaniard is striking the ball harder and with more aggression this fortnight in Melbourne than he was 12 months ago. Tournament data shows he has sacrificed around 4% of topspin on his forehand in exchange for more speed, and is now generating, on average, an extra 3 km/h on those shots. As a result, he has struck the most winners at the tournament and has the second-highest percentage of winners from points played. If he can get on top of that serve, he will be tough to overcome.
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