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Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2023 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Russian Andrey Rublev REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
MELBOURNE-Novak Djokovic delivered another masterclass at the Australian Open on Wednesday to beat fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-2 6-4 and reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park where he is seeking a record 10th and 22nd crowns. Grand Slam.
It marks the 44th time Djokovic has reached the last four at a Grand Slam, leaving him six ahead of Rafa Nadal and just two behind his other great rival and 20-time major champion Roger Federer.
“I couldn’t be happier with my tennis, I’m solid from the back of the court. I like this situation, this court, it’s definitely special for me,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic targeted Rublev’s forehand and second serve with a venomous return in windy conditions at Rod Laver Arena and went 3-1 up in the first set after the Russian fifth seed double-faulted on break point and the Serb pulled away from there.
Make a difficult field look easy 💪@DjokerNole it is in the 10th #AusOpen the semifinals!@wus • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/bLy6VAxKZG
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2023
“You have to make adjustments and adapt,” Djokovic said of playing in testing conditions. “There was no wind at six o’clock in the afternoon and it started suddenly.
“People in the stands or watching on TV do not see. But it makes a big difference, because you have to pick and choose shots and open up the court. Toss the ball is a gamble.
“The scores in the first two sets do not reflect the reality. Andrey is a great opponent, who has one of the biggest forehands. I know the gameplan, but one thing is to imagine and another to execute.
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2023 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic shakes hands with Russia’s Andrey Rublev after winning their quarter-final match REUTERS/Loren Elliott
After leading the match with a brilliant backhand crosscourt winner, Djokovic showed just how tough he can be to beat on the biggest stage despite being hamstrung by a hamstring problem after the fourth seed was broken in the fifth game of the second set.
He played well to save a break point in the next game and let out a huge shout before extending his advantage in the contest after a frustrated Rublev released his coach in the stands after a double fault.
Djokovic pounced early in the next set with Rublev seemed to lack ideas and defeat the seventh quarter-final in the main looming, as the former number one closed out a convincing win on serve to set up a meeting in the last four with American Tommy Paul.
“If I had to sum up the important shots, I found tennis to be the best,” Djokovic said.
“Obviously he (Paul) won’t lose when he’s in the semifinals for the first time. He’s been playing good tennis for the last 15 months.
“I have to prepare for the match mentally and not approach it differently. If I play this way, I have a good chance to go through.
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