The writing seems to be on the wall for Tommy Paul after Novak Djokovic declared himself intent on banishing the bitter reminiscences of final yr’s deportation debacle and including a tenth Australian Open crown to his assortment.
With the tremendous Serb’s kind surging and a leg harm seemingly behind him, Djokovic was already a prohibitive favorite coming into Friday’s semi-final towards 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 mentioned 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 could say that there is something extra this year. You could say because of the injury, what happened last year.
“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 playing better and better. I couldn’t ask for a better situation to be in at the moment.”
Djokovic’s steely strategy seems to spell doom for Paul, who shall be contesting his maiden grand slam semi-final towards tennis’ would-be GOAT who has by no means misplaced 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 video games in his previous six units towards world No.6 Andrey Rublev and Australia’s twenty fourth seed Alex de Minaur.
“The last two matches, playing against two guys that are really good players, in-form players, to beat them dominantly in three sets is definitely something that I want in this moment,” Djokovic mentioned forward of his forty fourth grand slam semi-final.
“Something that sends a message to all my opponents remaining in the draw.
“With this kind of game, of course the confidence level rises.
“I feel good on the court, better and better as the tournament 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 towards 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 seems to be to be the fourth seed’s greatest hazard.
Djokovic, although, apparently has that in test 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
