Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has secured a berth in the semi-final by sweeping fifth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets.
The Serb was ruthless even as he struggled with a thigh injury, defeating the Russian 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 earlier today at the Rod Laver Arena.
The 35-year-old will face unseeded American Tommy Paul on Friday after the latter’s triumph in his quarterfinal match against rising star Ben Shelton.
Although he had his left thigh strapped, Djokovic was dominant again, demolishing the world No. 6 in just over two hours and handing Rublev his seventh grand slam quarterfinal defeat.
Melbourne masterclass 👏@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/aWwNBVw3FB
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2023
The 21-time Grand Slam winner finished the tie with 14 aces compared to his opponents’ six; he won 44 receiving points and 105 total points.
When asked if it was his best performance of the tournament, Djokovic said: “I would rank it as number two but it is very close to the performance of two nights ago against De Minaur.”
“Overall, the scoreline in the first two sets doesn’t tell the truth of the close games we had. If I have to sum it up, in all the important moments I played the right shots and the right tennis – that’s what pleases me the most,” he concluded.
Djokovic, who has never lost when making the semi-finals of the Australian Open, revealed that his next opponent, Paul, has little or nothing to lose when they face each other next, but opined that he has to be mentally ready for the American.
“Well obviously he doesn’t have much to lose. As you said, first time in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam and he’s been playing some terrific tennis I think in the last 12 to 15 months. He’s got a great coach, I know his coach (Brad Stine), he’s been on tour for a while.”
“So, I’ve got to be ready for that match, obviously mentally, and not approach it in any way differently than I have the last couple of matches. If I play this way, I think I have a good chance to go through,” Djokovic added.
In the other quarterfinal game in the men’s singles, Tommy Paul ended rising star Ben Shelton’s surprise run at the Australian Open to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final in Melbourne.
The world No. 35 won 7-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 against his 20-year-old compatriot on the hard surface at the Rod Laver Arena.
TP ➡️ AO semifinals for the first time ☝️@TommyPaul1 • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/KJRPBTrL5c
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2023
In the women’s singles event, unseeded Magda Linette will meet world number five Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open semi-finals after she beat Karolina Pliskova to continue her dream run in Melbourne.
The Polish world number 45 had never advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam in her previous 29 attempts, but she produced a fearless performance in a 6-3, 7-5 win over Czech two-time major finalist Pliskova.
Sabalenka, on the other hand, saw off Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2 in their quarterfinal clash to qualify for her first ever semifinal berth at the Australian Open.
The fifth seed, who has yet to drop a set this tournament, outdid the unseeded Croatian with nine aces and won five of her 13 break points to continue her incredible run at the first grand slam of the year.
Unbeaten in 2023, @SabalenkaA served her way into a first #AusOpen semifinal, battling past Donna Vekic 6-3 6-2 in a tighter contest than the scoreline suggests.#AO2023
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2023
