Novak Djokovic compares Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘energy and intensity’ to Rafael Nadal ahead of their potential Australian Open quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are yet to play each other on a hard court Grand Slam event in their careers.

Novak Djokovic compares Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘energy and intensity’ to Rafael Nadal ahead of their potential Australian Open quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz (via X)

World No. 7 Novak Djokovic is looking forward to a potential clash with Carlos Alcaraz at this year’s Australian Open. The duo has had many memorable battles over the last two years in Grand Slam events, particularly at Wimbledon.

In the post-match press conference after his first-round match on Monday, Djokovic reflected on a possible matchup with the four-time Grand Slam champion. The Belgrade native mentioned that Alcaraz’s intensity and energy remind him of his former great rival, Rafael Nadal.

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I mean, it’s quite far to talk about potential matchup against him in quarters. But just overall, you know, he brings so much energy and intensity on the court. From that perspective, reminds me a lot of Rafa. Just such a complete player. He can hurt you from anywhere on any court on any surface. He has shown that. His versatility is amazing.

Novak Djokovic said

Djokovic enjoyed one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time with Nadal. With the left-hander retiring last October, Djokovic concluded their rivalry with a 31-29 head-to-head record in his favor. Their last ATP match took place in the second round of the Paris Olympics, where the Serbian won in straight sets.

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That he was able at such a young age to reach that level of tennis and I think mental maturity on the court, which is impressive. Makes him one of the best players in the world the last three, four years, without a doubt. He’s winning slams every year now consecutively for few years in a row. I’m sure that he’s not going to stop here. We’re going to see Carlos many years to follow.

Novak Djokovic added
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Meanwhile, the rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic has mainly captured attention at Wimbledon. The duo faced off in the finals of the 2023 and 2024 tournaments, with the 21-year-old Alcaraz winning both encounters.

Novak Djokovic opens Australian Open bid with a four-set win

Novak Djokovic began a new chapter in his career at the Australian Open with Andy Murray as his coach. On Monday (January 13), he defeated American wild card Nishesh Basavareddy 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. This win secured Djokovic’s place in the second round for the 18th year in a row. The match lasted two hours and 58 minutes, with Djokovic relying on Murray’s support for motivation.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X)

Basavareddy handled the pressure well on Rod Laver Arena. He won many long rallies against the 10-time champion and even claimed the first set. However, the physical demands of facing Djokovic started to show. After losing the second set, Basavareddy needed a medical time-out.

As the match continued, Murray’s involvement grew. He frequently stood up and cheered, adding energy to Djokovic’s performance. Djokovic responded with powerful play and regained control in the third and fourth sets.

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Novak Djokovic compares Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘energy and intensity’ to Rafael Nadal ahead of their potential Australian Open quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz

The 37-year-old Serbian raised his serving accuracy and converted all three break points he earned. This helped him close out the match and advance to the next round of the year’s first Grand Slam.