Novak Djokovic has put his Australian Open rivals on notice — and tournament organisers on edge — after his clinical Adelaide International semifinal win over Daniil Medvedev was punctuated by a leg injury.
Djokovic was in complete control against Medvedev, winning 6-3, 6-4 to reach Sunday's final, where he will play Sebastian Korda.
But as is sometimes the case with Djokovic, there was a degree of drama thrown in for good measure.
In the seventh game of the first set, the former world No.1 caught his left foot when sliding for a ball and immediately began stretching out his hamstring.
It did not stop him from fending off a break point and ripping out a superb forehand down-the-line winner as he consolidated the break of serve he had already logged.
It did, however, result in a medical time-out.
"Thankfully, it was nothing too serious," Djokovic said of the injury.
"If it was, I wouldn't have been able to continue. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be all fine."
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.
The solid form only continued in the second set, with Djokovic claiming a break in the seventh game.
The lanky Medvedev did his best to break back and had two opportunities in the next game, but Djokovic continued to find a way on the crucial points.
His ability to pull out winners when needed had Medvedev seemingly questioning Djokovic's apparent injury, with the 2021 US Open winner appearing at one stage to mock the Serb by clutching his own hamstring.
The win was Djokovic's 33rd in a row in Australia since his shock 2018 loss to Hyeon Chung in the Melbourne Park quarterfinal that year.
With Spanish world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz pulling out of the Australian Open because of injury and defending champion Rafael Nadal struggling for form, Djokovic is now a short-priced favourite to win his 10th Melbourne Park title.
AAP
