Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are going toe-to-toe after Aryna Sabalenka won through to yet another Melbourne Park semi-final.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are going toe-to-toe after Aryna Sabalenka won through to yet another Melbourne Park semi-final.
“Novak will speak for himself,” said the middle-aged woman draped in the colours of the Serbian flag sternly.
With Novak Djokovic in the background, practising on Rod Laver Arena for his big night against Carlos Alcaraz, the woman said fans had been directed by the Djokovic team’s official media operation not to talk to the media. Then she turned around to watch her hero serve.
Tonight is not only the quarter-final between the old GOAT and a rising giant of tennis – it’s also the first time Djokovic has been on court since he refused an on-court interview after Channel Nine sports commentator Tony Jones joked, “kick him out”.
The big question: how will the red-clad Serbian’s fans react?
Fortunately for us, not everyone has taken a vow of silence.
Among the smattering of voices we collected, none was prepared to take Jones’ Monday apology at face value.
“He wasn’t sincere,” said Danijela Ristic, of Sydney. “I think he deserves to lose his job … He’s a TV reporter. He should know better.”
Her husband, Marko Rajic, was a little more forgiving.
“He didn’t give a real apology. He was going around, around … but I don’t think he should lose his job,” Rajic said. “She is dangerous,” he added, pointing to his wife.
Hasti Lukic, of Sydney, said Jones’ comments were “just not how Australians do sport, really”.
Her husband, Kristian, also did not accept the apology, issued by Jones in a pre-recorded segment on Monday.
“He never actually said the words, ‘I’m sorry’,” Lukic said.
“I hope [Djokovic] gives an interview because we paid a lot of money, but still I think Tony Jones needs to apologise.”
Despite the ongoing tension over the incident – with Nine beefing up security at Melbourne Park and the Serbian Council of Australia lodging a human rights complaint – Sasha Stojanovic, of Narre Warren in Melbourne, predicted a “pretty relaxed atmosphere” on centre court, “probably”.
“Tense at times, but yeah. I think everyone’s focused on the match, not on some douchebag news reporter.”
Djokovic has come up with the break in the second game of the first set.
Alcaraz looked comfortable early in the point but he couldn’t maintain his accuracy and has paid the price.
Djokovic is up 2-0.
Rod Laver Arena looks a picture after the first game as the last of the stragglers find their seats.
Djokovic held serve and did it comfortably enough although Alcaraz did grab a couple of winners.
The umpire is warning fans behind the players to sit down. We have a lot of theatregoers in the audience tonight who aren’t moving as fast as the experienced tennis fans.
Aryna Sabalenka was brutally honest after her win tonight.
“I was just praying, just trying to put the ball back in these tough conditions,” Sabalenka told Nine.
“She played amazing tennis, very aggresive and I was just happy that I could, somehow magically, win this match of tennis.
“Now you can enjoy the battle between Djokovic and Alcaraz.”
Novak Djokovic risks being on the wrong end of another Wimbledon-like Carlos Alcaraz demolition unless he is willing to play differently.
That is respected coach, data guru and ex-Djokovic team member Craig O’Shannessy’s view on the Australian Open’s marquee quarter-final up next.
Read more here
Both men – Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic – received cheers from the fans at Melbourne Park.
If there was any doubts whether the fans wouldn’t give Djokovic a huge cheer, the ovation he received upon entry and while warming up shows the fans still hold the 10-time champion in the highest regard.
“Novak will speak for himself,” said the middle-aged woman draped in the colours of the Serbian flag sternly.
With Novak Djokovic in the background, practising on Rod Laver Arena for his big night against Carlos Alcaraz, the woman said fans had been directed by the Djokovic team’s official media operation not to talk to the media. Then she turned around to watch her hero serve.
Tonight is not only the quarter-final between the old GOAT and a rising giant of tennis – it’s also the first time Djokovic has been on court since he refused an on-court interview after Channel Nine sports commentator Tony Jones joked, “kick him out”.
The big question: how will the red-clad Serbian’s fans react?
Fortunately for us, not everyone has taken a vow of silence.
Among the smattering of voices we collected, none was prepared to take Jones’ Monday apology at face value.
“He wasn’t sincere,” said Danijela Ristic, of Sydney. “I think he deserves to lose his job … He’s a TV reporter. He should know better.”
Her husband, Marko Rajic, was a little more forgiving.
“He didn’t give a real apology. He was going around, around … but I don’t think he should lose his job,” Rajic said. “She is dangerous,” he added, pointing to his wife.
Hasti Lukic, of Sydney, said Jones’ comments were “just not how Australians do sport, really”.
Her husband, Kristian, also did not accept the apology, issued by Jones in a pre-recorded segment on Monday.
“He never actually said the words, ‘I’m sorry’,” Lukic said.
“I hope [Djokovic] gives an interview because we paid a lot of money, but still I think Tony Jones needs to apologise.”
Despite the ongoing tension over the incident – with Nine beefing up security at Melbourne Park and the Serbian Council of Australia lodging a human rights complaint – Sasha Stojanovic, of Narre Warren in Melbourne, predicted a “pretty relaxed atmosphere” on centre court, “probably”.
“Tense at times, but yeah. I think everyone’s focused on the match, not on some douchebag news reporter.”
Aryna Sabalenka has stood up to her toughest test of the 2025 Australian Open to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and secure her place in the semi-finals.
The top seed needed three sets and almost two hours on court but she eventually navigated her way past the fearless Russian who did all she could but couldn’t quite match Sabalenka.
It has taken almost two hours but Sabalenka is about to serve for the match at 5-3 up in the third set.
All eyes on her as the No.1 seed looks to seal her place in the last four.
Pavlyuchenkova has tied it up 3-3 after holding serve.
Every seat looks filled now, all eyes are on these two incredible players, and this is tennis worthy of a semi-final or greater.
It may well come down to who blinks first.
Sabalenka leads 4-3 in the third with Pavlyuchenkova to serve next.
They have been on court for an hour and 45 minutes.
Sabalenka has broken back … again.
It’s 2-2, Sabalenka to serve, and neither of them has held serve in this set.
Pavlyuchenkova has changed colours to a lovely purple/lilac outfit for this set.
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