Djokovic sets aside distractions to book 10th Open final

Novak Djokovic has booked a record-extending 10th Australian Open men’s final appearance with another masterclass on the court he has made his own.

Djokovic’s return to Melbourne after being deported 12 months ago has been typically headline-grabbing, from his strapped left hamstring to toilet breaks, mystery bottled concoctions and his father Srdjan’s latest controversy.

Novak Djokovic was too good for American Tommy Paul in their semi-final.Credit: Eddie Jim

But something else remains the same: the incomparable Serbian superstar keeps winning.

Djokovic will face Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday night’s final, in a rematch of the 2021 French Open decider – a five-set stoush he apparently forgot about mid-week – after outclassing unseeded American Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday night.

It was his 27th consecutive win on Rod Laver Arena as he moves within one victory of an extraordinary 10th title at Melbourne Park.

“We both had heavy legs in the first set and towards the end I was fortunate to kind of hold my nerves,” Djokovic said.

“The first set was the key [because] after that I started swinging through the ball more. I’m just really pleased to get through another final.″⁣

Novak Djokovic will chase a 10th Australian Open title in Sunday’s final.Credit: Eddie Jim

The winner between Djokovic and Tsitsipas will also replace Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz as the world’s No.1 player, with the latter chasing his maiden grand slam title and the former going for a record-equalling 22nd overall.

Alcaraz did not make the start line for this year’s tournament after suffering a leg injury in training while recovering from an abdominal setback.

“I won that match [against Tsitsipas at the 2021 French Open], so my recollections are very positive,” Djokovic said.

Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul after the match.Credit: Getty Images

“I was two-sets-to-love down and I think it was the first time that I came back from two-sets-to-love down in a grand slam final ... it was a really physical, mental, emotional battle. It always is with Stefanos.

“I respect him a lot. He has improved over the years. I actually think he’s one of the most interesting guys on the tour, with his interests off the court and his hairstyle and all. But it’s all business on Sunday for both of us. Let the better player win.

“Winning grand slams and being the No.1 in the world are probably the two biggest peaks that you can climb as a professional tennis player, so let’s see what happens.”

Djokovic had every reason to be distracted after the events since his quarter-final thrashing of Andrey Rublev two nights earlier.

Not for the first time – not even the first time this fortnight – Team Djokovic came under fire, the focus firmly on his father, who wittingly or not posed with pro-Vladimir Putin supporters after the Rublev win.

Srdjan opted to stay away from his son’s semi-final to limit the fuss after a 24-hour firestorm, leaving an empty seat next to his wife Dijana in Djokovic’s player box.

Djokovic put that controversy aside, survived a seven-minute opening service game then raced to a 5-1, double-break lead over a starstruck Paul, who was playing his first grand slam semi-final.

But his animated debate with the chair umpire over a time-clock query – having just had a set point – briefly threw him off course as the American snatched back both breaks and levelled the set at five-all.

After conceding only 12 games across his past two wins, any challenge or vulnerability was a surprise. Whatever happened, it did not last long.

The 35-year-old went into lockdown mode, with Paul continually finding trouble on serve, then handing over the first set on a forehand that landed narrowly wide.

It was the story of Paul’s night. From five-all in the first set, he faced at least one break point in five of his next six service games and earned none himself outside a crucial third game in the second set.

The world No.35, who will move inside the world’s top 20 on Monday thanks to his career-best run, threatened to break back in that game with some terrific baseline hitting, leaving Djokovic on his haunches after one such point.

But Djokovic, ever the street-fighter, dug in again, firing an ace out wide to see off the third of Paul’s chances before holding soon after. He never looked back, or even gave Paul a sniff.

After 24 unforced errors in a rollercoaster opening set, Djokovic committed only six in set two, then broke Paul twice more to start the third set to put paid to his foe.

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