Australian Open: Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz and gets closer to a 25th Grand Slam title

The Serb battled into the final four in Melbourne. 

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Novak Djokovic refused to let anything stop his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam trophy in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Not a problem with his left leg. Not an early deficit. And not the kid across the net, Carlos Alcaraz, who was making things difficult and eyeing his own bit of history.

Djokovic overcame it all, just as he has so often along the way to so many triumphs, moving into the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the 12th time with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alcaraz in a scintillating showdown Tuesday night between a pair of stars born 16 years apart and at opposite ends of their careers.