Novak v Stefanos: men’s final we all want to see

Voracious fans, headstrong and crazily skilled players – fight night between Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas would be something else in the final of the Australian Open. There’s just the one complication. They haven’t won their semi-finals yet.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is fan favourite at Melbourne Park. Picture: Getty Images.Stedping07

Biggest roars of this glorious Australian Open? For Alexei Popyrin on John Cain Arena. For Andy Murray inside the Margaret Court bullring. And for Roger Federer when Novak Djokovic mentioned his old mate’s venerated name after trampling another despairing opponent into the dust at his personal colosseum of Rod Laver Arena.

Folks are having a blast. There’s been a carnival atmosphere inside RLA for the past fortnight. Superstars and Australian players and traditional fan favourites have been few and far between so everyone’s gone impartial. Good luck to the lot of you!

The joint properly erupted when Djokovic spoke about Federer on Wednesday night – we all miss Roger and so forth – but even that mighty din will pale in comparison to the decibels coming our way if we get the men’s final everyone expects and yearns for – Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Because the only patrons more obstinate, vocal and one-eyed than Serbian supporters are the Greeks. First things first, though. Tsitsipas has to beat underrated Russian Karen Khachanov on Friday arvo. I’d have him a 65/35 favourite. And then Djokovic needs to get past overachieving American Tommy Paul.

Only a torn hamstring or something truly extraordinary will prevent Djokovic from moving into fight night on Sunday against Tsitsipas or Khachanov.

Tsitsipas has been brilliant. Entertainment-plus. Loves Australia. Who doesn’t? He wants to build a school in Victoria and grab a coffee with Margot Robbie. May have more luck with the former. Desperate to break his majors duck. He’s played three Open semi-finals and lost the lot. “I don’t think I’ve felt so good in a long time,” he says. “I’m a different player. Playing different. My mentality is different. I don’t really think of negatives. I just go out there and play the game. My mindset has changed. There’s this whole dynamic that has made me very hungry and has created a lot of desire for me to be playing tennis. Wanting to achieve new things.”

Voracious fans, headstrong and crazily skilled players – fight night between Djokovic and Tsitsipas would be something. Here’s Djokovic on Paul, the American with a decent game, great attitude and sweet nothing to lose in his first major semi-final: “Well, I know how he plays. I’ve never faced him on the court. He’s been around for a few years and I’ve watched him play quite a bit, especially during this tournament. He’s playing probably the tennis of his life. Very explosive. Very dynamic player. Quick. Very solid backhand. Likes to step in, dictate the point with the forehand. Great, great service motion. He can hit all the spots with the serve. Very complete player. First semi-finals for him, so of course he doesn’t have much to lose. I’m sure he’s going to go out trying to play his best tennis.”

In the absence of needing to sweat in back-to back thumpings of Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev, Djokovic has confidence oozing from his pores. In the player cafe, in the gym, striding through the corridors of RLA, in both of those lordly performances, he just has this palpable aura of being untouchable. He protests: “I can’t really say that this is as confident as I’ve felt because I’ve had some incredible seasons and years here at the Australian Open,” he says. “Some matches that are really unforgettable for me. It’s tough to compare because I’ve been fortunate to really live through a lot of success in the Australian Open.

“But the last two matches, yes, playing against two guys that are really good players, in-form players, to beat them dominantly in three sets is definitely something that I want in this moment.

“Something that sends a message to all my opponents remaining in the draw.”

For the first time, Djokovic admits last year’s deportation saga is part of his motivation. “I feel good on the court. Better and better as the tournament progresses,” he says. “I’ve been in this situation so many times in my life, in my career. Never lost a semi-final at the Australian Open and hopefully that will stay the same. I don’t think that I lack determination.

“I always try to give my best … but you could say that there is something extra this year. Because of the (hamstring) injury and what happened last year. I just wanted to really do well.”