Carlos Alcaraz addressed the possibility of Novak Djokovic faking an injury during their quarter-final clash at the 2025 Australian Open, following a thrilling four-set match that saw Djokovic come from behind to secure victory. Djokovic had taken a medical timeout early in the match, grimacing in pain and requiring treatment for a leg issue. He returned to the court with strapping on his thigh, raising concerns about his condition.
John McEnroe, who was commentating, expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of Djokovic’s injury, warning Alcaraz not to be “fooled.” In the post-match press conference, Alcaraz was asked about Djokovic’s injury and whether he believed it was genuine. Alcaraz responded diplomatically, acknowledging that Djokovic appeared to be struggling in the second set but seemed fine in the third and fourth sets.
“I think everybody saw in the second set he was struggling a little bit with moving,” Alcaraz said. “I’m not saying he made a show. I’m just saying that he was struggling in the second set, and then in the third and fourth sets, he showed he was really good.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, admitted in his on-court interview that he had considered retiring from the match due to the injury but credited medication for helping him push through. “The medication started to kick in and that helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose,” Djokovic explained. “I didn’t know, to be honest, if I lost the second set I didn’t know if I would continue playing.”
Despite his injury concerns, Djokovic played brilliantly in the later stages, managing to secure his spot in the semi-finals. He acknowledged that recovery would be key ahead of his next match against Alexander Zverev. With an extra day of rest before the semi-final, Djokovic expressed hope that it would be enough time to fully recover. “To be honest, that’s all I’m thinking about. The extra day with no match comes at the perfect time for me,” he added.
