The writing appears to be like on the wall for Tommy Paul after Novak Djokovic declared himself intent on banishing the bitter recollections of final 12 months’s deportation debacle and including a tenth Australian Open crown to his assortment.
With the tremendous Serb’s type surging and a leg harm seemingly behind him, Djokovic was already a prohibitive favorite getting into Friday’s semi-final in opposition to the unseeded Paul at Melbourne Park.
But now the nine-times champion admits “something extra” is driving his push to match Rafael Nadal’s report 22 males’s grand slam singles titles.
“I don’t think that I lack determination,” Djokovic stated on Thursday.
“I always try to give my best, particularly in grand slams because at this stage of my career those are the tournaments that count the most, of course.
“But you might say that there’s something further this 12 months. You might say due to the harm, what occurred final 12 months.
“I just wanted to really do well. So far I have a perfect score in Australian hard courts, in Adelaide and here (this year).
“I’ve been enjoying higher and higher. I could not ask for a greater state of affairs to be in in the mean time.”
Djokovic’s steely approach appears to spell doom for Paul, who will be contesting his maiden grand slam semi-final against tennis’ would-be GOAT who has never lost a last-four encounter at Melbourne Park.
The 35-year-old is unbeaten in 39 matches in Australia since 2018 and, ominously, dropped a meagre 12 games in his past six sets against world No.6 Andrey Rublev and Australia’s 24th seed Alex de Minaur.
“The final two matches, enjoying in opposition to two guys which might be actually good gamers, in-form gamers, to beat them dominantly in three units is unquestionably one thing that I would like on this second,” Djokovic said ahead of his 44th grand slam semi-final.
“Something that sends a message to all my opponents remaining within the draw.
“With this kind of game, of course the confidence level rises.
“I really feel good on the court docket, higher and higher because the event progresses.
“I’ve been in this situation so many times in my life, in my career, never lost a semi-final in the Australian Open. Hopefully that will stay the same.”
While Djokovic’s crushing defeat of Rublev marked a twenty second win from his previous 23 matches in opposition to top-10 opponents on the Open, Paul has but to face a top-20 rival throughout his breakout run this marketing campaign.
The two have by no means clashed earlier than and, as a lot as Djokovic says he respects Paul as a “very complete player”, harm realistically appears to be like to be the fourth seed’s largest hazard.
Djokovic, although, apparently has that in verify too, having not required any medical timeouts because the third spherical.
Djokovic or Paul will face the winner of Friday’s different semi-final – between Greek world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov – for the title on Sunday night time.
4-NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB) v TOMMY PAUL (USA) – first assembly
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Age: 35
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US164,786,653
Career titles: 92
Grand slam titles: 21 (Australian Open 2008, 2011-2013, 2015-16, 2019-21; French Open 2016, 2021; Wimbledon 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022; US Open 2011, 2015, 2018)
Australian Open win-loss report: 87-8
Best Australian Open outcomes: champion 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
TOMMY PAUL
Age: 25
Ranking: 35
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US3,721,250
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss report: 9-3
Best Australian Open outcome: semi-finals 2023
