TENNIS: Djokovic eyes semi-final nemesis Sinner at Australian Open

MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic aims to carry his momentum into an 11th Australian Open final, but the 10-time champion will need a fast start in a generational semi-final showdown against defending champion Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic, one Grand Slam away from surpassing Margaret Court with a record 25 major titles, comes into the Sinner clash as fresh as he could hope to be, benefiting from walkovers in his previous two matches.

However, doubts remain over his form after he was soundly beaten in two sets by Lorenzo Musetti, before the Italian retired injured early in the third set.

The fourth-seeded Djokovic admitted he was not himself in the error-filled quarter-final against Musetti, confessing he might have been on his way out until the fifth seed’s injury halted the match.

Even with a lighter schedule, the 38-year-old Serb cannot afford to give Sinner an early advantage.

Sinner, 24, has won their last five encounters and has become Djokovic’s semi-final nemesis at the Grand Slams. The Italian did not drop a set against Djokovic in the French Open and Wimbledon semis last year and defeated him in four sets at Melbourne Park two years ago on his way to his first Grand Slam title.

Despite the odds, Djokovic remains defiant, insisting he is still a contender in the era dominated by the new “big two,” Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are,” Djokovic said.

“The quality and the level is amazing. It’s great. It’s phenomenal.

But does that mean I walk out with a white flag? No. I’m going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.”

Sinner’s semi-final win over Djokovic at Melbourne Park in 2024 was a turning point for the Italian, who has since split all the Grand Slam titles with Alcaraz. Apart from a four-set scare against unseeded American Eliot Spizzirri in the third round, the second seed has dominated, reaching the semis with a straight-sets win over eighth seed Ben Shelton.

Having already shattered Djokovic’s aura at his signature Slam, another victory for Sinner could cement him as a future force at Melbourne Park.

YOUTH AND POWER COLLIDE

World number one Alcaraz awaits as Sinner’s potential opponent in the final, should he overcome last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final on Friday.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who suffered a shock quarter-final loss to Djokovic at Melbourne Park last year, has elevated his game to new heights. Like Sinner, he reached the semis with a commanding victory over Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur.

German Zverev’s semi-final appearance is somewhat surprising given his early exits at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year. Zverev defeated American first-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Learner Tien in four sets to set up the Alcaraz clash, and he enters Friday’s match fully fit.

Thrashed by Sinner in last year’s final and beaten by Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open decider, the 28-year-old German will need a new strategy. His often inconsistent serve has been reliable so far, and his renewed aggressiveness has paid off after years of criticism for passivity under pressure.

Zverev also has fond memories of his last Melbourne Park clash with Alcaraz, a four-set quarter-final win in 2024. Two years later, however, Alcaraz is on a different level: a six-time Grand Slam champion at 22, eyeing the chance to become the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam.

“I will be well-prepared for that match, and yeah, if (Zverev) wants to beat me, he has to sweat a lot,” said Alcaraz.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN ORDER OF PLAY – FRIDAY

Rod Laver Arena

Day session (0330 GMT / 1430 AEDT)

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) vs. Alexander Zverev (Germany)

Night session (0830 GMT / 1930 AEDT)

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs. Jannik Sinner (Italy)

-Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters