The Serb lost just seven games throughout his quarter-final match and managed to reach the top four round of a Grand Slam for the 44th time in his career.
Novak Djokovic (5th ATP) is advancing by leaps and bounds towards his tenth Australian Open. Nothing and no one seems able to deflect him from a feat that would also tie him with Nadal in the fight to be the man with the most Grand Slam titles. This morning, he entered the top four in Melbourne thanks to a beating from Andrey Rublev (6th).
And there is no other word to define what was experienced at the Rod Laver Arena during the duel between the Serb and the Russian. From the first minute, a superior “Nole” was seen, who, without mobility problems as a result of his injury, delivered a tennis recital. It was a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory in two hours and three minutes.
A match where the Serb left cinema numbers. Hit 14 aces, earn 80% first serve points, earn 44 receiving points , in addition to getting five breaks and receiving no counters. The records also come with a match in which he stood out for his great shot distribution, ability to squeeze Rublev when he received and superior mental toughness to work through the tense moments the duel had.
In this way, Djokovic arrives asu 44th Grand Slam semi-final and 10th in Australia . In Oceania every time he has reached this stage he has finished with the title and now he does not expect that to be the exception because in this 2023 there is a lot at stake. emerges champion on Sunday, he will equal Nadal with 22 major championships and will once again be number one in the world. A small thing.
Already with the victory under his arm and in a relaxed press conference, the Serb delivered his feelings of victory. “It’s the second best game I’ve had all year, very close to the form I showed against De Miñaur. I’m very happy with my tennis, especially from the baseline. I love the conditions of this court, it’s my favorite “, he launched.
But he didn’t stop there and also addressed the stunning result against a player who had to give more battle. “Maybe the score of the first two sets does not speak to the reality of the match, because there were very even matches. Rublev is a great player, he has a great forehand, but I showed my best tennis in key moments. It’s not just about having a plan, it’s about making it happen” he pointed out.
Now the Serb will play against Tommy Paul (35°) , who in an exciting match cut off the dream path of his compatriot Ben Shelton (89°) and will now play his first Grand Slam final. He will face one of the two most experienced players on the ATP circuit, as the task seems difficult. Of course, Djokovic has already warned: “You have nothing to lose ”. That (and becoming the first American, since Roddick in 2009, to reach a Grand Slam singles final) will be his big driving force.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
