Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will have the chance to realise his double-digits dream after advancing to his 10th final on Friday.
The Serb—who returned to the draw in 2023 after his deportation from Melbourne made global headlines last year—will face Stefanos Tsitsipas at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. That's after he beat Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to make it 14 sets won in a row at the Australian Open.
The hamstring strain that was believed to have been troubling Djokovic coming into the tournament posed no issue as he joked after his latest win: "It's great, it's perfect, it's 110 per cent." The veteran then issued a feisty challenge to another of his emerging rivals as he addressed Tsitsipas directly: "Stefanos, see you in two days."
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Djokovic, 35, shrugged off the recent controversy surrounding his father, Srdjan, to deliver an almost flawless display in the Melbourne heat. It appeared Paul, 25, was in for a rough day when he fell 3-0 and 5-1 behind in the opening set, only to win four games in a row and miraculously level the score.
That proved as close as the American would pull to parity, however, as 'Nole' snatched the first set before narrowly missing a bagel in the second. It wasn't all one-way traffic as Djokovic saved three break points at a key point two games up, but a dominant patch saw him win eight games from nine to move two sets ahead.
Paul's plight continued when he lost his opening serve for the third time in as many sets, struggling to keep up with Djokovic's slick standards across the court. The Australian Open kingpin only grew more dominant as the set wore on, breaking his foe to 15 to snatch a 3-0 lead before serving out to seal his triumph.
Djokovic conceded he and Paul perhaps both suffered from "heavy legs in the first set" but added he was "really pleased to get to another final." He then admitted even his "vivid imagination" wouldn't have thought he'd compete for 10 Australian Opens when he clinched his maiden major in Melbourne back in 2008.
Sunday's showdown against Tsitsipas will be a rematch of the 2021 French Open final, which—until this year—was the Greek star's only appearance in a major final to date. The 24-year-old went two sets up on that occasion before succumbing to Djokovic, who reached all four Grand Slam finals that year.
Looking back on that encounter following his win over Paul, 'Nole' described that contest nearly two years ago as "a really physical, mental, emotional battle. It always is with Stefanos. . .but it's all business for us on Sunday. Let the best player win."
Djokovic will be eager to contest all four Grand Slams again in 2023, having been forced to miss both the Australian Open and U.S. Open last year due to vaccination policy. Sunday's decider holds extra significance for Tsitsipas, too, after he beat Karen Khachanov 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 to put himself within reach of the global summit.
"These are the moments that I've been working hard for, to be able to play finals like this, finals that have bigger meaning than just a final," he told reporters. "So it's a Grand Slam final, I'm fighting for the No. 1 spot, it's a childhood dream to be capturing that No. 1 spot one day. I'm close."
Tsitsipas could become the first player to beat Djokovic in an Australian Open final, though the world No. 5's record in the competition and his current levels of play put him firmly in the driver's seat. There's also the fact 'Nole' has defeated Tsitsipas in 10 of their 12 encounters to date and can make it 10 in a row by gazumping the Greek come Sunday.
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