Novak Djokovic was surprised to see his children still awake at 1am in Melbourne after his hard-fought victory over Carlos Alcaraz, securing his spot in the Australian Open semi-finals. During his on-court interview with Jim Courier, Djokovic briefly lost focus when he noticed his kids, Stefan and Tara, in the stands.
“Sorry, I heard your question, but I’m just surprised my kids are still here,” Djokovic said with a smile. “I love you, thank you, but it’s 1am! Go to sleep. They don’t want me to talk about them, okay. Back to tennis.”
After the match, Djokovic was seen giving his son Stefan a big hug as he carried the visibly tired 10-year-old backstage. The Serb had just downed Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his 50th Grand Slam final, defying both age and injury in one of his most impressive performances.
Djokovic required a medical timeout and struggled with his movement at times, but painkillers kicked in, allowing him to power through the three-hour-and-38-minute battle. He now faces Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
When asked by Courier how he managed to pull through, Djokovic humorously replied, “With my two legs and two arms, I guess. Well, one and a half legs.” He went on to explain, “The medications started to kick in, and I had to take another dose—sounds awful, but I had to. If I lost that second set, I’m not sure I would’ve continued playing.”
Djokovic added that once he found his rhythm, he noticed Alcaraz hesitating from the back of the court, and he capitalized on his chances. “I started to feel better, move better, and the injury didn’t bother me at the end of the match, only during that second set. Tomorrow morning, I’ll see what the reality is when the medications wear off.”
With the earlier controversy involving Channel 9 host Tony Jones behind him, and Andy Murray by his side in his box, Djokovic reminded everyone why he’s the man to beat in Melbourne. His victory over the rising star Alcaraz was a statement win, showcasing his resilience and determination.
“It’s one of the most epic matches I’ve played on this court, or any court really,” Djokovic reflected. “I just wish this match today was the final, honestly.”
