Djokovic, the 10-time champion in Melbourne, was serving at 3-1 up within the second set of the much-anticipated last-eight encounter, however the world No. 7 discovered himself a set down as he struggled with an damage to his left leg, which he acquired tended to throughout on the finish of the primary set.
At 15-30 in an important level of the second set, Djokovic served, with the ball brushing the web twine on its manner into the service field.
Alcaraz performed the return, with it seeming like play was about to proceed earlier than the chair umpire lastly interjected to name a let.
That didn’t impress Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, who was bewildered at how late the decision had come, branding it “loopy”.
“It’s a let,” Alcaraz stated as he approached the umpire’s chair.
“I’m not complaining about whether or not it was a let or not.
“You had been 5 seconds late, it’s loopy! Play was delayed, you stopped as a result of we stopped.”
Within the Eurosport commentary field, commentators Naomi Cavaday and Tim Henman tried to make sense of what had simply occurred, with everybody trying baffled, together with Djokovic.
“Everybody was in settlement that it was a let, however Alcaraz will not be pleased as a result of he thinks the umpire’s been influenced by Djokovic stopping throughout that time,” Cavaday stated.
“I don’t suppose Djokovic is simply too thrilled that Alcaraz is asking that query,” Henman added.
Alcaraz appeared fired up as he tried to reply to being a break down within the second set, and that pent-up frustration benefited him, as he received the sport to haul himself again to inside a sport, and produce the set again on-serve.
Djokovic went on to win the second set to degree up the pulsating encounter on Rod Laver Enviornment.