Australian Open – Novak Djokovic advanced to the final

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Thirty-five-year-old Djokovic will have a chance to equal Rafael Nadal, who has a total of 22 titles, at the head of the historical table of Grand Slam champions. The Serb has won 21 of them so far, and if he succeeds in the final, he will return to the post of world number one for the first time since June 2022. In case of triumph, Tsitsipas will also become number one, for the first time in his career. Until now, the leader of the ranking was the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

In the very first game, Djokovic had to fend off two break points, but immediately he took the opponent’s serve, and when he repeated it in the sixth game and increased it to 5:1, it looked like a sovereign way to win the first set. However, the American did not give up, benefited from the Serbian’s unusual number of mistakes and was able to tie the game at 5:5. However, the end of the opening act belonged to the favorite, who used the very first set point in the twelfth game when serving Paul.

In the next course, Djokovic clearly dominated the court, in the second set he allowed the opponent a single game at 5:0 and in the third two at 4:0 and 5:1. It was their first mutual duel, it lasted 2:20 hours.

Djokovic extended his winning streak at the Australian Open to 27 matches, surpassing Andre Agassi’s record in the open era. He last lost in Melbourne in 2018. Last year, he could not defend his title, as he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus and was deported from the country. AO previously won in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. He has never lost in the semi-finals or the final of this tournament.

“In the first set, my legs were still ‘heavy’, after all, we’ve been through a lot in this tournament. In the second, I found the right rhythm and felt good on the court. I’m grateful for the support from the fans, it gives me energy and I need ju. I also thank my family and my team, it is also their success.” said Djokovic in the first reaction.

He has a positive record of 10:2 with Tsitsipas, he has defeated him nine times in a row. In 2021, they met in the Roland Garros final, and the Serb won after a five-set battle 6:7 (8), 2:6, 6:3, 6:2 and 6:4. “It was my first Grand Slam final, in which I was able to turn from 0:2 to sets, and even now I will definitely not have anything easy. I respect Stefanos, he is one of the most interesting players on the circuit. It will also be a fight for the post of world number one, so that will be a special extra charge.”

The unseeded Paul achieved his life’s success despite the loss, he has never made it past the fourth round in Grand Slam tournaments. The twenty-five-year-old player will move from the 35th place in the ATP ranking to the top 20, the highest in his career.

Singles – semi-finals: