Djokovic overcomes explosion, advances to final

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A record-extending 10th triumph astatine the Australian Open is successful Novak Djokovic's sights aft a dominant, though astatine times turbulent, semi-final triumph implicit Tommy Paul connected Friday night.

The Serbian survived a first-set scare successful which helium made a whopping 24 unforced errors, earlier going connected to instrumentality a straight-sets triumph implicit the American.

All told, Djokovic was the victor astatine Rod Laver Arena, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

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Having gone up 5-1 successful the archetypal and with a acceptable point, it looked arsenic if Djokovic would cruise to victory, lone to concede 4 unanswered games and let Paul to level the scores astatine 5 apiece.

He besides unleashed connected the chair umpire erstwhile the authoritative started the timepiece excessively aboriginal for his liking.

Ultimately, the 35-year-old withstood the unit and yet took the opening account.

At the extremity of the set, the tennis fable received a frosty reception from the assemblage arsenic immoderate booed and others jeered.

Djokovic coiled up the crowd, waving his hands arsenic if to inquire for more.

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

Soon enough, a chant of "Novak" broke retired successful the assemblage and the nine-time Australian Open victor began pointing successful the absorption of his supporters.

That acceptable the code for the remainder of the lucifer and what followed was a demolition derby by Djokovic, who mislaid lone 3 much games.

At times, Djokovic looked flustered and debased connected energy.

Asked astir his scare successful the archetypal set, helium offered a tongue-in-cheek reply and a wry smile.

"It's great, it's perfect, it's 110 percent," Djokovic told Nine commentator Jim Courier arsenic the assemblage laughed.

"Look, of people you are not arsenic caller arsenic astatine the opening of the tournament. That's for sure.

"We enactment successful a batch of hours passim the off-season, weeks, successful our fittingness and connected the tennis court. A batch of enactment successful bid to beryllium successful a bully capable information to play champion of five.

"I cognize what's expected of me. I've been successful this concern truthful galore times earlier successful my career.

Boos ringing retired astatine Djokovic survives archetypal acceptable scare

"I deliberation acquisition helps, but obviously connected the court, infinitesimal to moment, constituent to point, it's a large conflict – archetypal of each with yourself and past of people the opponent.

"You don't person overmuch clip betwixt the points. Some agelong rallies you could truly consciousness them.

"We some had dense legs successful the archetypal set, but I was truly fortunate to clasp my nerves and towards the extremity of the archetypal acceptable it was a key.

"After that, I started swinging done the shot more. I'm conscionable truly pleased to get done to different final."

Come Sunday, Djokovic volition look Greek prima Stefanos Tsitsipas aft helium bushed Karen Khachanov earlier successful the evening.

It volition people the archetypal clip Tsitsipas has played successful an Australian Open final.

It's besides conscionable his 2nd expansive slam final. His archetypal quality came against Djokovic astatine Roland-Garros, losing the 2021 edition.

Tsitsipas has conscionable 2 wins to his recognition against Djokovic from their 12 encounters.

Those came successful 2018 and 2019, successful the ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai circular of 16 and ATP Masters 1000 Canada quarter-final respectively.

Djokovic is connected a nine-match winning streak implicit Tsitsipas.

Djokovic toys with Tsitsipas successful on-court chat

Their past brushwood came astatine the ATP Finals successful Italy past year.

Should helium bushed Tsitsipas, Djokovic volition go conscionable the 2nd subordinate successful past to deed treble digits for an idiosyncratic expansive slam.

Rafael Nadal is the lone subordinate to execute the feat, winning Roland-Garros connected 14 occasions.

Whoever wins the last betwixt Djokovic and Tsitsipas volition bargain the satellite No.1 ranking from 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

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