Novak Djokovic has put his Australian Open rivals on discover – and the event’s organisers on edge – after his scientific Adelaide International semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev was punctuated by a leg damage.
Djokovic appeared on-song towards one among Melbourne Park’s different chief contenders, dominating in a 6-3 6-4 win.
But as is usually the case with the 21-time grand slam champion, there was a dollop of drama thrown in for good measure.
In the seventh sport of the primary set, the normally rubbery former world No.1 caught his left foot when sliding for a ball and instantly started stretching out his hamstring.
It did not cease him from keeping off a break level and ripping out an outstanding forehand down-the-line winner as he consolidated the break of serve he’d already logged.
It did, nonetheless, lead to a medical time-out.
“Thankfully, it was nothing too serious,” stated Djokovic afterwards, explaining he went off courtroom to take some anti-inflammatories.
“If it was, I wouldn’t have been able to continue.
“Hopefully, tomorrow will probably be all effective.”
While looking a little proppy on occasion when he returned, Djokovic had the first set in the bag two games later, slamming down an ace to ice what had been an outstanding start to the match.
His form only continued in the second set, Djokovic claiming a break in the seventh game.
The lanky Russian did his best to break back – and had two opportunities the next game, but Djokovic continued to find a way on the biggest points.
His ability to pull out winners when needed had Medvedev seemingly questioning Djokovic’s apparent injury, the 2021 US Open winner appearing at one stage to mock the Serb by clutching his own hamstring.
Djokovic will now play Sebastian Korda in the final.
The win was Djokovic’s 33rd in a row in Australia since his shock 2018 loss to Hyeon Chung in the Melbourne Park quarter-final that year.
With Spanish world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz pulling out of the Australian summer because of injury and countryman and defending champion Rafael Nadal struggling for form, Djokovic is now a short-priced favourite to win his 10th Melbourne Park title.
The Djokovic camp, followers and Open organisers will probably be hoping damage points do not put paid to that.
