Alcaraz-Djokovic, anticipated final at the Australian Open

In what will be an early final, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia's Novak Djokovic will meet in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open afterboth overcame their matches on Sunday, in a first round of 16 in which none of the favorites failed to win.

Alcaraz, ranked No. 3 in the world, eliminated Britain's Jack Draper (No. 18), who was forced to retire due to physical discomfort at the start of the third set. The Spaniard, a four-time Grand Slam winner at 21, had already won the first two by 7-5 and 6-1.

"It's not the way I would have liked to have got through to the next round, but I'm happy to be back in a quarter-final" in Australia, a barrier he had never overcome before, Alcaraz told AFP after the match. "I hope this year I can go further," added the young Spaniard, who in case of victory in Melbourne would become the youngest tennis player in history to win at least once all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Djokovic, ready to make history in one of his favorite tournaments.

It won't be easy. The obstacle Alcaraz will have to overcome to reach his first semifinals in Melbourne is none other than Djokovic, the man with the most Grand Slams in history. The Serb (N7) defeated Czech Jiri Lehecka (N.29) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), and at 37he reached the quarterfinals in Australia for the 15th time, equaling the record of Swiss Roger Federer..

"When you watch him play, he looks young again.... It's unbelievable. He's in great shape," Alcaraz stressed about his next opponent, whom he has beaten three times and lost to on four occasions, the last in the Olympic final in Paris.

Djokovic, who holds the record number of titles in Australia (10) and who if he wins would become the first tennis player in history to reach 25 Grand Slams, clearly dominated the first two sets and did not tremble when Lehecka woke up in the third to force a tie break.

Tommy Paul, the last American in contention, will face Zverev.

Who will also fight to be in the semifinals will be the American Tommy Paul (No.11), who overwhelmed the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich by a triple 6-1. Physically diminished and with physical discomfort after his first two matches won in five sets, the player from Malaga was no match for Paul (N.11).

Paul will face German Alexander Zverev (N.2), who beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert (N.14) in four sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, and will be looking to repeat in the semifinals in Melbourne, as he did in 2020 and 2024.

Sabalenka, to the quarterfinals without dropping a set

In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka continues to be unstoppable and reached the quarters without dropping a set in the four matches played so far. The Belarusian, world No.1 and whois seeking her third consecutive title in Melbourne, beat the young Russian Mirra Andreeva (No.15 at 17) 6-1, 6-2 and will face another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (No. 27), in the quarterfinals.

In addition, the American Coco Gauff (N.3) will be the rival of the Spanish Paola Badosa in the quarterfinals after beating the Swiss Belinda Bencic by 5-7, 6-2 and 6-1, in a match in which the American went from less to more. For her part, Badosa (No.12) beat Serbia's Olga Danilovic (No.55) 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) and reached the quarterfinals in Australia for the first time in her career.