India, Jan. 21 -- The first encounter between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open took place in 2012. This final, often regarded as one of the most remarkable matches in the Open Era, extended for an astonishing 5 hours and 53 minutes. Both players struggled to remain upright during the presentation ceremony, where they were promptly provided with chairs on stage following the match. They both acknowledged it as the "most grueling and physically exhausting match" they had ever participated in, marking it as a pivotal moment in the Djokovic-Nadal rivalry, which is recognized as the most significant competition in men's singles history.

Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis last November; however, Djokovic will now face a new challenge in the form of Carlos Alcaraz when he steps onto the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday for their quarterfinal match. This will be Djokovic's inaugural meeting with Alcaraz in Melbourne, with Djokovic currently holding a 4-3 advantage in their overall head-to-head record following his victory in the Paris Olympics final.

"Like most of our matches, I hope Carlos and I can engage in a great battle. There have only been two lopsided encounters between us. I performed well against him at the 2023 ATP Finals, and he responded strongly in last year's Wimbledon final," Djokovic remarked.

"The other matches were lengthy and demanding. They remind me of my contests against Rafa Nadal in terms of the intensity and energy we both bring to the court," he added.

It is uncommon for a player to enter an Australian Open match against Djokovic as the favorite. Although Alcaraz has yet to secure a victory over the Serb on hard courts, having faced him twice on this surface, including the memorable Cincinnati Open final in 2023, his recent performance in Melbourne last week positions him favorably in this upcoming contest.

During the off-season, Alcaraz dedicated significant effort to enhancing his serve, subsequently playfully referring to himself as a "serve bot" after achieving 14 aces in his second-round victory over Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. Although he boasts an impressive 80 percent win rate on his first serve and 59 percent on his second, Alcaraz has only managed to successfully land 66 percent of his first serves. This statistic places him below the top 50 for first serve percentage in this year's tournament, a position shared by Djokovic, who has achieved a 64 percent first serve rate at the 2025 Australian Open, resulting in a 7 percent win rate.

Both players exhibit similar performance on their second serves, but it is the first serves that may ultimately determine the outcome of the match for Alcaraz, particularly given his superior return performance against first serves in Melbourne last week. The Spaniard has achieved a 41 percent win rate against his opponents' first serves.

Alcaraz has also demonstrated remarkable consistency from the baseline, winning an impressive 58 percent (206 out of 358) of baseline points during his journey to the quarterfinals, a figure that significantly surpasses that of his competitors in Melbourne. According to an analysis by Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers, the average baseline win percentage in the tournament thus far stands at 47, with only 22 players exceeding the 50 percent mark. Additionally, Alcaraz has shown strength at the net, achieving a 76 percent win rate, ranking him fourth in the tournament.

Another aspect that gives Alcaraz an advantage is his forehand performance. The four-time Grand Slam champion has recorded 79 winners with his forehand, which is 54 more than his backhand, while also committing eight fewer errors. By sacrificing 4 percent of topspin on his forehand, Alcaraz has made it more formidable by increasing its speed by an additional 3 km/h, resulting in a higher number of winners.

Lastly, Alcaraz must remain aware of Djokovic's difficulties with mid-length rallies, as the Serbian player has a negative ratio (92 wins to 96 losses) in rallies consisting of 5 to 8 shots.

Despite the statistics favoring Alcaraz, Melbourne remains a challenging environment.

He experienced some difficulties during the initial two matches, where he lost a set in each, leading to a total court time of 11 hours, in contrast to the Spaniard's 7 hours and 45 minutes. However, he returned to form in the subsequent two matches, achieving victories in straight sets and showcasing remarkable ball striking and defensive skills.

As Alcaraz has been having trouble with his first serves, Djokovic will be poised to capitalize on his second serves, having achieved an impressive 59 percent success rate on those deliveries. The Serbian player will also aim to prolong the rallies, an area where he has excelled despite facing respiratory challenges throughout the tournament. Notably, 20 percent of his rallies have included shots exceeding nine, with Djokovic winning 93 out of the 147 points contested.

It is always challenging to dismiss Djokovic in any match, particularly at the Australian Open; however, Alcaraz may be considered the slight favorite in their quarterfinal encounter. What remains to be seen is whether this matchup will rival the legendary Nadal-Djokovic clash of 2012.

For any inquiries regarding this article or other content needs, please reach out to the Editor at contentservices@htdigital.in HT Digital streams Ltd.

Read Also: Rishabh Pant’s leadership given fresh vote of confidence

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"
HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON !