Australian Open 2025 QF - [7] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v/s [3] Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (SPN)

[FloridaAG]

Time for Carlos to fake an injury and take an MTO

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Apparently that’s Novak’s 300th set win at the Australian Open.

 

[weakera]

Kinda confused here. Alcaraz was doing a pretty good job (prior to the injury) of creating points in the first set through movement, placement, and pace. Now, with a Djoko that's not moving well, he's dropped his level significantly and is just hitting the ball down the middle. What's he doing?

I mean haven't we seen this rope-a-dope 100,000 times before?

 

[Honza]

Cant watch. Did the MTO work?

 

[Tennfan123]

Literally no one actually thought that lol

ibbi did.

 

[McGradey]

Alcaraz is in about 2nd gear with some really bad level drops. Can he level up? Time is on the youngster’s side but he needs to slow Djok’s roll quickly

 

[bw114]

This serving performance from Nole is just ridiculous. Hoping he can keep it up. Glad to see the painkillers are seemingly doing their job.

 

[dking68]

@Hitman Still 50/50 but I feel more confident in Novak now. I don’t want to bet against the king of Melbourne in this matchup

 

[MeatTornado]

Novak's point streak ends at 10

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Also I will never believe a Novak injury timeout again in my life. I’m done with this man.

Novak can have a bone sticking out and I won’t believe it. This is beyond the boy who cried wolf. Just ridiculously stupid now. Utter joke.

Just now you came to this conclusion?

 

[junior74]

Cant watch. Did the MTO work?

MTO = Motivational Time Out

 

[tudwell]

This serving from Djokovic is ridiculous. If he can keep this up through the end of the match, then kudos.

 

[GRASScaraz]

Alcaraz would just be another Berdych if he faced a 10 year younger Novak . Just a total mismatch in terms of grit and fighting spirit .

 

[Hitman]

Look at that reflex forehand from Djokovic....

40-15

 

[FeroBango]

Underestimate MTOVIC at your own peril.

 

[Rebel-I.N.S]

Impressive resolve from Djokovic.

At 37, he’s STILL the toughest player to put away.

 

[Move]

Kinda confused here. Alcaraz was doing a pretty good job (prior to the injury) of creating points in the first set through movement, placement, and pace. Now, with a Djoko that's not moving well, he's dropped his level significantly and is just hitting the ball down the middle. What's he doing?

imo he stopped moving Novak around and went with Novaks play of hit and miss

 

[RF-18]

Kinda confused here. Alcaraz was doing a pretty good job (prior to the injury) of creating points in the first set through movement, placement, and pace. Now, with a Djoko that's not moving well, he's dropped his level significantly and is just hitting the ball down the middle. What's he doing?

Djokovic has significantly upped his MPH on BH and FH as the charts showed during 2nd set, he is hitting harder than Alcaraz did at any point in the match so Alcaraz can't really do what he did.

 

[TheSlicer]

Man i swear I feel novak is moving super slowly to subconsciously cancel Alcaraz intensity, its working, Carlos is not dictating the pace of the match at all

 

[Terenigma]

Cant watch. Did the MTO work?

Worked like a charm, kept the acting up until he needed to break the set and produced 3 fabulous points in a row to take the second set and he's looking good on the third so far.

 

[NoleFam]

Have to love couch potatoes who don't even go to the gym questioning a nearly 38 year old's physical state. The fact that he can play this physical at this stage of his career and not hurt something in every other match is a miracle.

 

[mahatma]

Djokovic outhitting a 15 years younger ATG by 10kmph on both wings! Wow

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Just now you came to this conclusion?

Yeah well I was labelled a Novak hater for so long I always tried to give him benefit of the doubt with injuries cause you’re kinda an a**hole doubting an injury. But now I’m truly done with this man.

It’s a joke.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Also I will never believe a Novak injury timeout again in my life. I’m done with this man.

Novak can have a bone sticking out and I won’t believe it. This is beyond the boy who cried wolf. Just ridiculously stupid now. Utter joke.

You don’t think he has an injury? It might be a strain that he can run out, but it still looks like he is feeling sonething imo. The indication to me is that he is wincing but also there are balls he is leaving that he would always normally try to chase down.

 

[Alcawrath]

Djokovic has significantly upped his MPH on BH and FH as the charts showed during 2nd set, he is hitting harder than Alcaraz did at any point in the match so Alcaraz can't really do what he did.

I see what you're saying, but that's not what appears to be happening. I don't see alcaraz struggling with djokos pace

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Have to love couch potatoes who don't even go to the gym questioning a nearly 38 year old's physical state. The fact that he can play this physical at this stsage of his career and not hurt something in every other match is a miracle.

But he didn’t? He’s fine babe? Since then he’s won a set and holding serve in set 3 and favourite to win this match.

He’s the boy who cried wolf. And he did it while Alcaraz served for the set too. YUCK.

 

[Hitman]

Incredible to think Djokovic is actually ahead in this match, even if it is by a single game in the third.

 

[NYTennisfan]

I can't stop laughing at Sinner's draw. Those are like 4th round level opponents in a quarters and semi

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

It been a great battle!

 

[bullfan]

novak took a mto, and Carlos has gone on walkabout

 

[NoleFam]

But he didn’t? He’s fine babe? Since then he’s won a set and holding serve in set 3 and favourite to win this match.

He’s the boy who cried wolf. And he did it while Alcaraz served for the set too. YUCK.

And he lost the set in that game without winning a point so why tf are you crying?

 

[weakera]

I can't stop laughing at Sinner's draw. Those are like 4th round level opponents in a quarters and semi

To be fair, for Jannik, that's like a really minor level of establishment rigging.

 

[mahatma]

Incredible to think Djokovic is actually ahead in this match, even if it is by a single game in the third.

The moment he threw caution out of the wind, he has been dominating!

 

[tudwell]

Look at that reflex forehand from Djokovic....

40-15

Alcaraz needs to make him hit that over and over. Go after the forehand. Novak’s making a lot of errors on that side as he clearly doesn’t like moving out and back.

 

[weakera]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1881674934122131936

 

[Aussie Darcy]

You don’t think he has an injury? It might be a strain that he can run out, but it still looks like he is feeling sonething imo. The indication to me is that he is wincing but also there are balls he is leaving that he would always normally try to chase down.

I don’t care anymore with this man. I thought so but seeing how he played that set, no. Until he retires from this match with an injury will I believe he had an injury. Otherwise it’s just tactical MTO’s like his entire career.

 

[Terenigma]

Yeah well I was labelled a Novak hater for so long I always tried to give him benefit of the doubt with injuries cause you’re kinda an a**hole doubting an injury. But now I’m truly done with this man.

It’s a joke.

I'm shocked it took you this long. I think the time I accepted he did it on purpose was #eyegate and then there was the elbow one shortly after, I gave up believing it sometime around then.

Honestly though, I'm here for the fact it keeps working. It's hilarious!

 

[Hitman]

The moment he threw caution out of the wind, he has been dominating!

I don't think he is dominating, but he certainly brought his level to where he can make Raz for this win.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And he lost the set in that game without winning a point so why tf are you crying?

Cause he’s faking another injury like he always does and it’s a joke lol.

 

[Move]

Incredible to think Djokovic is actually ahead in this match, even if it is by a single game in the third.

Alcaraz gameplay is not there. He should make this a physical match. Instead of going with Novaks point and shoot. He is rattled

 

[Hitman]

Alcaraz needs to make him hit that over and over. Go after the forehand. Novak’s making a lot of errors on that side as he clearly doesn’t like moving out and back.

Yes, that is the tactic, I agree.

 

[Move]

Alcaraz looks deflated atm

 

[mahatma]

I don't think he is dominating, but he certainly brought his level to where he can make Raz for this win.

Making it even Steven is dominating

 

[Pheasant]

Djokovic is starting to dictate the rallies. Alcaraz’s is being outplayed

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

I don’t see Alcaraz winning this match.

 

[junior74]

Poor length from Tiny, right into Nolde's hitting zone

 

[NoleFam]

Cause he’s faking another injury like he always does and it’s a joke lol.

Yea he faked his way to 24 Slams, the real reason of your extreme butthurt.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I'm shocked it took you this long. I think the time I accepted he did it on purpose was #eyegate and then there was the elbow one shortly after, I gave up believing it sometime around then.

Honestly though, I'm here for the fact it keeps working. It's hilarious!

I tried to be nice since everyone said I was his number #1 hater here. But yeah I don’t believe any of it anymore. Boy who cried wolf, he could play the lead role.

 

[Rebel-I.N.S]

Are these balls up the middle part of the Andy Murray masterplan?

 

[Terenigma]

What a pass!