Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title continues after defeating American Tommy Paul in the Australian Open semifinals on Friday. His straight-sets victory, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2, has set up an exciting final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic’s 33rd Grand Slam final came after Tsitsipas overcame Russian Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 to reach his second Grand Slam final.
The final promises to be thrilling, with the winner set to become the new men’s world No. 1. While Tsitsipas aims for his first Grand Slam title, Djokovic is one win away from matching Rafael Nadal’s 22 titles.
Despite an earlier hamstring injury, Djokovic has dominated in Melbourne, winning his last four matches without dropping a set.
However, controversy arose off the court with his father, Srdjan, being seen with fans holding Russian flags and supporting Russia. Srdjan clarified he was there solely to support his son and chose to watch the semifinal from home to avoid disruption.
Djokovic’s semifinal saw him fend off a spirited challenge from Paul, who managed to level the first set at 5-5 before Djokovic regained control. Converting seven of 11 break points, Djokovic secured the victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
For Paul, reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal marked a remarkable achievement, and his performance guarantees him a spot in the world’s top 20.
Tsitsipas, seeking revenge for his 2021 French Open final loss to Djokovic, has been playing some of his best tennis and is optimistic about his chances.
With a world No. 1 ranking on the line, Tsitsipas views this final as a childhood dream. Djokovic, currently ranked No. 5, holds the record for the longest time spent as world No. 1 and looks to reclaim the top spot after a disrupted 2022 season due to his vaccination status.