ATP number three Carlos Alcaraz might walk into the quarterfinals with fire, but he walked out of the Slam with lessons. Battling Olympic gold medalist Novak Djokovic on a Grand Slam stage is never just about winning. It is like a mental war, a test of perseverance. However, when the dust settled, the Spanish athlete didn’t dwell on his defeat. Instead, he relied on respect and his road ahead. Was this another setback or the beginning of something bigger for Carlos Alcaraz? What did he say?

Alcaraz exited the Melbourne Slam after losing against Novak Djokovic in four straight sets by 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, and 4-6. Despite leading the first set, the Spaniard ultimately lost dominance in the remaining three sets and exited the major tournament as a quarterfinalist. Although Alcaraz’s Grand Slam luck got jeopardized for the Serb, the ATP number three confessed to having a great fight on the court. “I really wanted to win the tournament and felt I was able to but Novak played an unbelievable match. Facing Novak in the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam is the worst thing. It was a pretty good match. I have tried to take the good things about that match and will look ahead now,” he said. Alcaraz’s statement highlighted his positive outlook towards his performances and determination to learn from his mistakes.

Although his statement about his loss against Djokovic was quite humble, he drew controversy with his on-court attitude against the Serb that day. During Alcaraz’s quarterfinal clash against Djokovic, the latter requested a medical timeout after the first set. Upon returning, Djokovic’s left thigh was taped up. Although he struggled, Alcaraz imitated the Serb’s actions such as limping back to his seat after the third set or walking while holding his left thigh, just to break Djokovic’s spirit. Despite his stunt, which the fraternity believed to be a result of his overconfidence, Alcaraz lost the match and drew severe backlash from people. Benoit Maylin criticized the Spaniard and said, “The thing about: did he really make fun of Djokovic when we thought he had cramp? Of course, he makes fun of Djokovic, it’s obvious. And what’s more, he does it while watching Ferrero. He was literally eaten by a guy he thought he could beat and I’m curious to see how he’s going to react.” Although Alcaraz’s act was under scrutiny, he chose to not comment on that.

On the flip side, Novak Djokovic ignored the Spanish rising star’s behavior on the court. Maintaining his absolute politeness, Djokovic praised his opponent’s brilliance, showing that as a stalwart of the sport he is above such things. So, what did he say?

Novak Djokovic had only “utmost respect and admiration” for Carlos Alcaraz

Post-quarterfinal clash against Alcaraz, Djokovic praised the 21-year-old athlete and said, “I want to say my utmost respect and admiration for Carlos, everything he stands for, and what he has already achieved in his young career.” His words reflected his maturity and his senior-like attitude towards the next generation. Djokovic and Alcaraz’s clash delighted Andy Roddick, who believed the match was quite nerve-wracking.

Reflecting on that, he commented on an episode of his Served podcast, “Carlos got up on a switchover and was kind of limping around. I don’t know if that was mocking Novak, who seemed to be compromised with his movement and then, in the third and fourth set, moved as well than I’ve seen him in 18 months or two years. That will live. I’m sure that will have its own heartbeat in the post-mortem of his match.”

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz offered a splendid match in the 2025 Australian Open’s quarterfinals. Both of them performed with sheer brilliance, trying their best to win the round. However, it was Djokovic’s luck that worked quite well that day. Despite all this, Alcaraz’s humility for Novak Djokovic was commendable. It showed his personality, highlighting how Novak Djokovic remains indomitable to many star athletes of the current generation.