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

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jimmy0slams said:
Greatness Defined :

djokovic-brisbane-2025-tuesday.jpg
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Can't really argue with that, Djokovic is great.
 
Daniel Andrade said:
2 thoughts:

- Djokovic is too good.

- Alcaraz has power, but doesn't have what I call 'hand' during the rallies. Yes, he has good drops, and has good volleys and so on. But during groundstroke rallies he doesn't have hand, placement. He either hits too hard, or becomes too passive. But it is in that balance where rallies are won or lost. That's what I think is the difference between today's generation and the BIG 3. Today's generation is all about power, but Djoko, Rafa and Fed have better depth, placement and shot tolerance and that in tennis is king.

That being said I think Carlos has to improve his return, especially on the forehand side, and I think his backhand is passing too low over the net. And better physical condition (Stamina, speed, etc) Wouldn't hurt.
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Second thought it a good point. Djokovic—above every other elite aspect of his game—has made his living by hitting a better average quality of groundstroke (depth and width) than his opponent. Alcaraz still doesn't have the rally ball quality Novak has.
 
Daniel Andrade said:
2 thoughts:

- Djokovic is too good.

- Alcaraz has power, but doesn't have what I call 'hand' during the rallies. Yes, he has good drops, and has good volleys and so on. But during groundstroke rallies he doesn't have hand, placement. He either hits too hard, or becomes too passive. But it is in that balance where rallies are won or lost. That's what I think is the difference between today's generation and the BIG 3. Today's generation is all about power, but Djoko, Rafa and Fed have better depth, placement and shot tolerance and that in tennis is king.

That being said I think Carlos has to improve his return, especially on the forehand side, and I think his backhand is passing too low over the net. And better physical condition (Stamina, speed, etc) Wouldn't hurt.
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I agree with the first part but people dont look at Alcaraz age because they consider him an early bloomer, and that hand you say, comes a lot with experience too
 
bw114 said:
Second thought it a good point. Djokovic—above every other elite aspect of his game—has made his living by hitting a better average quality of groundstroke (depth and width) than his opponent. Alcaraz still doesn't have the rally ball quality Novak has.
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Alcaraz looks to end the point within a few shots, beyond that he’ll defend or go to something aggressive like a drop shot quite soon — i don’t think he enjoys trading strokes unless he feels he is about to get the chance to hit a winner. He makes so many errors from neutral because of this.
 
Third Serve said:
I dunno, I have a hunch this is going to be a disappointing match for Alcaraz. Not terribly impressed by his form in this tournament. Djokovic hasn’t looked too sharp either as of his most recent match but I think he should beat Carlos here.
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I don't think I'll read the remaining 32 pages, so I'll just say "Good call".

The Tank Top Theory stands: no sleeves, no slam for Carlos!
 
It's kind of dumb Fedr fans are constantly trashing on Alcaraz for not being the smartest player, but their favorite was not exactly a tactical genius on the court either lmao. The most creative for sure (just like Alcaraz!), but incredibly incredibly stubborn.

Meanwhile Djokovic is easily the most intelligent player ever, constantly adjusting tactics even with a long-form strategy.
 
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The Guru said:
We get it nothing Djokovic can do at this point could ever be legitimately impressive or noteworthy
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It's an impressive win, doesn't change the fact that Djokovic has vultured these titles over the worst successive generations we've seen. Of course a lot of that is the fact that he's still so fit and good, but these guys aren't even Murray or Wawrinka level considering they still can't beat him at 38...
 
I don't trust Djokovic in multiple 5-set matches anymore, so I still believe Zverev and especially Sinner have the advantage over him in the SF and potential Final. A great win either way.

Also drama discussion, but didn't Djokovic take the MTO in the first set, only to lose the set anyway? Not the best gamesmanship from Novak there!
 
Djokovic utterly picked apart the overrated game of the equally overrated Alcaraz, just as I believed he would. For all of the Talk Tennis Warehouse members who smooch Alcaraz's butt--claiming he's some GOAT in the making / "owns" Djokovic, they have to swallow that B.S., as in the case of the 2024 Olympics. Alcaraz has been flushed, and men's tennis has some hope now.
 
NatF said:
It's an impressive win, doesn't change the fact that Djokovic has vultured these titles over the worst successive generations we've seen. Of course a lot of that is the fact that he's still so fit and good, but these guys aren't even Murray or Wawrinka level considering they still can't beat him at 38...
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You’re free to come to whatever conclusions you want. If you want to believe that Alcaraz is a supercharged Monfils despite the results and the worrying idea that believing that allows you to believe what you want to believe then go for it. At some point you’d think you’d have to start giving the guy credit. I guess everyone could be a mug and a choker and a bum even the youngest 1 in history with 4 slams on all 3 surfaces before Fed had 1 could also be a mug choker bum. It’s funny now that we’ve evolved into exaggerating Djokovics age as a means of discrediting him instead of exaggerating Feds age as a means of discrediting him. History doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme.
 
canta_Brian said:
I had to work. Was Alcaraz bad or Djokovic good. Where on the scale between these did it sit?
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Halfway on each measure imo. It's pretty clear at this point AO is Alcaraz's worst Slam so he gave Djokovic a lot of gifts with mishits/not playing the variety you see him play at the other tournaments, but Djokovic also had the standard fearlessness with some really aggressive second serves and winner attempts.
 
The Guru said:
You’re free to come to whatever conclusions you want. If you want to believe that Alcaraz is a supercharged Monfils despite the results and the worrying idea that believing that allows you to believe what you want to believe then go for it. At some point you’d think you’d have to start giving the guy credit. I guess everyone could be a mug and a choker and a bum even the youngest 1 in history with 4 slams on all 3 surfaces before Fed had 1 could also be a mug choker bum. It’s funny now that we’ve evolved into exaggerating Djokovics age as a means of discrediting him instead of exaggerating Feds age as a means of discrediting him. History doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme.
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Alcaraz was only number one because Wimbledon didn't give points and Djokovic was banned from the AO and the USO. I don't actually think he's a supercharged Monfils, but he's way overrated. The fact he achieved more than Fed at a young age is meaningless - so did Hewitt and a bunch of other players. Djokovic is closer to 38 than 37 but whatever, saying he lost to 37 year old is only marginally better lol. I guess your ilk will continue to deny the awfulness of this era to avoid saying the quiet part out loud regarding Djokovic's achievements.
 
The Guru said:
You’re free to come to whatever conclusions you want. If you want to believe that Alcaraz is a supercharged Monfils despite the results and the worrying idea that believing that allows you to believe what you want to believe then go for it. At some point you’d think you’d have to start giving the guy credit. I guess everyone could be a mug and a choker and a bum even the youngest 1 in history with 4 slams on all 3 surfaces before Fed had 1 could also be a mug choker bum. It’s funny now that we’ve evolved into exaggerating Djokovics age as a means of discrediting him instead of exaggerating Feds age as a means of discrediting him. History doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme.
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you are wasting ink on that dude.
 
Superb win from the master and greatest of all time!

I still think it is too tall an order for Novak to beat Carlos, Sasha & Sinner all back to back. Hell it would have been a tall order, even 18 months- 2 yrs ago, but now at nearly 38 I think will not be possible.

Would love Novak to do it one last time and then even if he never won another event again. it would not bother me.

However Janick has such a comfortable draw to final, i think he will be a tall order for either Novak or Sasha.
 
If Alcaraz was Djokovic, he would have fired Ferrero. Again with that thing of talking to Carlitos all the time. God let the guy figure out his path!
You don't see Murray chatting with Novak continuosly.
 
Old man Djoker is looking better than he did at any of last season's slams, maybe the whole season, outside the Olympics.

Pathetic stuff from Alcaraz. Really disappointing.

Sinner, Djoker or Zverev is winning this thing now.
 
NatF said:
Alcaraz was only number one because Wimbledon didn't give points and Djokovic was banned from the AO and the USO. I don't actually think he's a supercharged Monfils, but he's way overrated. The fact he achieved more than Fed at a young age is meaningless - so did Hewitt and a bunch of other players. Djokovic is closer to 38 than 37 but whatever, saying he lost to 37 year old is only marginally better lol. I guess your ilk will continue to deny the awfulness of this era to avoid saying the quiet part out loud regarding Djokovic's achievements.
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Fed was losing to Tsitsipas at a younger age than Novak is now. Novak is simply a greater and better player
 
NYTennisfan said:
You can't lose to a middle aged Djokovic this badly mind you and be considered an all time great.
There's no way Nadal, Federer or hell even prime Murray or Wawrinka would get punked by 38 year old Djokovic.
Hell, I bet even Zverev wins next round.
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Compared to Djokovic the version of Alcaraz seen today would have been even less of an obstacle for the Zedrot.
 
NatF said:
Alcaraz was only number one because Wimbledon didn't give points and Djokovic was banned from the AO and the USO. I don't actually think he's a supercharged Monfils, but he's way overrated. The fact he achieved more than Fed at a young age is meaningless - so did Hewitt and a bunch of other players. Djokovic is closer to 38 than 37 but whatever, saying he lost to 37 year old is only marginally better lol. I guess your ilk will continue to deny the awfulness of this era to avoid saying the quiet part out loud regarding Djokovic's achievements.
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I’m curious what would have to happen for you to admit you’re wrong. If a “real” player never comes to wipe out all of these horrible mugs who would’ve lost to all the top players of yore what then? Tennis is just in an infinite regress of crap. There will never be an actually good player again. Is Sinner tainted too because he’s lost too much to Djokovic and players Djokovic beat or is he far enough removed that if he dominates we can say he’s actually good and not just the first among bums.
 
McGradey said:
Alcaraz looks to end the point within a few shots, beyond that he’ll defend or go to something aggressive like a drop shot quite soon — i don’t think he enjoys trading strokes unless he feels he is about to get the chance to hit a winner. He makes so many errors from neutral because of this.
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i agree he had several break points where if he would just be more patient instead of trying to go for the highlight shot he would have won the point. He was winning points when he did that. I guess it has to do with his age and the fact he seems to care more about putting on a show.
 
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