Alcaraz rues ‘biggest mistake’ after Djokovic defeat in Melbourne

MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz said his failure to capitalise on Novak Djokovic´s thigh problem was his “biggest mistake” in losing to the 24-time Grand Slam champion in an Australian Open blockbuster on Tuesday.

The 10-time Melbourne Park winner Djokovic outlasted the younger Spaniard 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a semi-final with Alexander Zverev. The 21-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz has won four major titles but his wait for a first Australian Open crown goes on.

A wincing Djokovic, 37, called the trainer and had a medical timeout late in a first set which he went on to lose. He returned with heavy strapping on his left thigh, but after moving gingerly at first, Djokovic only seemed to get better from then.

Djokovic afterwards refused to say exactly what his injury problem was, but said “the medication started to kick in, and it helped”. Alcaraz felt he should have rammed home the advantage when Djokovic was struggling still in the second set. “Honestly I felt like I was controlling the match and I let him get into the match again. I´m going to say that was the biggest mistake that I made today,” said Alcaraz.