Some like it hot: Novak Djokovic gets a ‘sorry’, Jannik Sinner survives, Carlos Alcaraz goes shirtless

Gloves are off. Shirts are off. The Australian Open is heating up.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia addresses the crowd following his victory against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic. Picture: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic won his fight with Channel 9. He deserved an apology, and he received one.

He faces a less accommodating opponent in Carlos Alcaraz in Tuesday night’s roof-raising, wall-shaking Australian Open clash. The Spaniard will be less inclined to give Djokovic what he wants.

Nine host Tony Jones told Djokovic’s camp he was sorry for comments that the 10-time Open champion believed “made a mockery of Serbian fans” and were personally “insulting and ­offensive.” Jones reckoned he privately apologised on Saturday morning; Djokovic said on Sunday night he wanted it done publicly. When Jones did as requested on Monday morning – new balls, please.

Djokovic v Nine was entertaining for a day or two but not half as compelling as the Open. We’ve started the sprint to finals.

Djokovic is understood to be willing to do an on-court interview if he beats Alcaraz in their blockbusting quarterfinal. The if is a big one. The 37-year-old, 24-time major champion faces a 21-year-old who is fitter, faster and striding towards an incredible future. They played the match of the year in the final of the Paris Olympics, which Djokovic won by the skin of his teeth in two tie-breaker sets, and their showdown at Rod Laver Arena has the potential to be a classic.

Gloves will be off. On Monday, Alcaraz had his shirt off on another sweltering Melbourne day. “A very dynamic player,” Djokovic said of his young foe. “Explosive player. Incredibly talented. A charismatic player. Great to watch. Not that great to play against. I look forward to it. It reminds me of my match-ups against (Rafael) Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court. I think when the draw was out, a lot of people were looking forward to the potential match-up in the quarterfinals, Alcaraz versus me. So here we are.”

Here’s Alcaraz’s summation: “This is not the right player to play in a quarterfinal. If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn’t play. What weakness Novak has? Just a few. Or none.”

Channel Nine’s Tony Jones. Picture: AFP

Some like it hot, including Alcaraz, but not everyone. Melbourne’s heat has proved too much for assorted ball kids and spectators who have gone down like flies at the Open. Nothing too serious but folks have been fainting all over the place.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner nearly found it too hot to handle on Monday, seemingly about to pass out when walking around the court like a glazed-eyed, wobbly-legged zombie before sneaking past Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Sinner woke up feeling ill on Monday. Went to bed feeling a ­little better. Winning’s the best medicine. “It was very, very tough,” Sinner said in his on-court interview.

“I tried to stay there mentally and tried to stay connected with my service game and then see what happens. Today the support meant so much to me, so thank you so much. I really needed you guys today. It’s 90 per cent yours and 10 per cent I tried to make you happy. Thank you so much.”

Sinner took an 11½-minute medical time-out in the third set. They must have given him the magic sponge and kiss of life because he came good almost ­immediately.

Rune called a tit-for-tat delay, seeking treatment for a knee complaint, the net broke and no one could find the superglue, or the sticky tape, or the screwdriver, or whatever would work, and you suspected this match might never end. With Sinner seemingly out on his feet for most of the afternoon, his Open was alive and kicking.

Ukraine’s 30-year-old Elina Svitolina, the wife of celebrated Frenchman Gael Monfils and mother to their two-year-old daughter, Skai, reached the final eight in Melbourne for the first time in six years – “a lifetime ago” – by beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1. As always, she refused to shake the hand of a Russian opponent.

She wrote on a TV camera, “Spirit of Ukraine” then explained: “This fighting spirit I have is a completely Ukrainian spirit that I try to show and represent. It’s almost been three years that the war is ongoing. It’s on a daily basis a very heavy rucksack that all Ukrainians have on their backs. For me to find a way to win matches, to find a way to bring a little light, a little win for Ukrainian people, is something I feel I am responsible for. To bring the fight is the least that I can do.”