Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are headed for the blockbuster quarterfinal at the Australian Open on Tuesday that tennis fans have been anticipating since the draw came out.

No. 3 Alcaraz was first to advance via a 7-5, 6-1 walkover against Britain’s No. 15 Jack Draper.

No. 7 Djokovic followed during the night session with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over No. 24 Jiří Lehečka of the Czech Republic.

The Serb, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title, then skipped his on-court interview with Jim Courier because of a beef with the Australian broadcaster Tony Jones of Channel 9, who recently mocked the Serb’s fans on air.

“A journalist who works for Channel 9 in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” he told reporters. “Neither him or Channel 9 issued an apology.”

He said he told Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley he would accept any fines.

“If you guys want to fine me, I’ll accept that ’cause I feel this is something that needs to be done,’” he said. “That’s all there is to it.”

Alcaraz, meantime, was asked if he thinks about Djokovic’s accomplishments when playing him.

“If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn’t play,” the Spaniard said. “I know I’m able to beat him. That’s all I’m thinking when I face him.”

Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, leads Alcaraz 4-3 and won their most recent encounter, in the championship match of the Paris Olympics last August, giving the Serb his first gold medal in singles. It was the only significant title Djokovic won in 2024; he did not capture any major titles.

Alcaraz, meantime, won the French Open and Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. He is seeking to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

“I’m a very ambitious person and I want to win the Australian Open to complete my Grand Slam record,” Alcarazl told reporters in Spain last month, per Marca. “I want 2025 to be an even more exciting year. Let’s just say I want more. Australia is what I want to get tattooed, even though my dad doesn’t like it very much. To be champion there is my main goal for next season.”

Djokovic is now coached by former rival Andy Murray, while Alcaraz is coached by another former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero

All four men have history with one another, and now comes another historic chapter.

Either Alcaraz will beat the Serbian legend and remain on track for the career Grand Slam, or Djokovic will defeat his current No. 1 rival and advance for a shot at a record 25th major title.

Either way, either man could still have to go through No. 2 Alexander Zverev and/or No. 1 Jannik Sinner to win the title.

Zverev faces American No. 12 Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, while defending champion Sinner gets No. 13 Holger Rune on Monday.