Carlos Alcaraz appeared to lose his cool at the chair umpire during his Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz looked to be in control of his heavyweight clash after taking the first set 6-4, as Djokovic repeatedly limped around Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.
However, after going off court for treatment, Djokovic rallied to complete a stunning 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 win over the 21-year-old.
The 10-time Australian Open champion will next face Alexander Zverev after he beat Tommy Paul in four sets.
But there was one moment in the second set that could have changed the course of the Djokovic-Alcaraz match, in what was a rare outburst from the young Spaniard.
‘Not happy’ Carlos Alcaraz hits out at umpire over Novak Djokovic call
Earlier on Tuesday, Zverev criticised the decision to axe let machines at Grand Slams during his win over Paul.
And a similar incident occurred when Djokovic was 3-1 up in the second set against Alcaraz. The Serb’s serve brushed the net cord, Alcaraz returned it, and then umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore made a late call to replay the point.
This did not impress the four-time Grand Slam champion, who said the umpire was “five seconds late” and that the delay was “crazy”.
That led Eurosport commentator Naomi Cavaday to say: “Everyone was in agreement that it was a let, but Alcaraz is not happy because he thinks the umpire’s been influenced by Djokovic stopping during that point.”
To which former world number four Tim Henman added: “I don’t think Djokovic is too thrilled that Alcaraz is asking that question.”
Alcaraz went on to break back in the second set but ultimately, he lost in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the second straight year.
Carlos Alcaraz runs into familiar Novak Djokovic problem
Just when it looked like Alcaraz would repeat his 2024 Wimbledon triumph over Djokovic, the Serb defied the odds to beat him once again.
Alcaraz lost to an inspired Djokovic in the Paris Olympics final last year, as the veteran finally won an Olympic gold medal at the fifth attempt.
And now Djokovic has denied Alcaraz’s chance to complete the Grand Slam, for another year at least, with a remarkable comeback win in Australia.
Djokovic, who turns 38 in May, now leads his head-to-head with Alcaraz 5-3. Incidentally, this is the Serbian’s first win over Alcaraz since appointing Andy Murray as interim coach.
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