LIVE: 'Better than Fed' weapon to worry Novak

Novak Djokovic raised eyebrows astatine the Australian Open erstwhile helium seemingly forgot that helium had beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas successful the 2021 Roland-Garros final.

The Serbian superstar had to beryllium reminded of that information astatine a property league arsenic helium wondered aloud whether the Greek leader had antecedently progressed to a expansive slam decider.

Australian tennis large Wally Masur wasn't buying it.

"Unlike me, who tin hardly retrieve yesterday, Novak Djokovic has a caput similar a alloy trap," Masur said connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"Jim Courier asked him 'when was your archetypal expansive slam semi-final?' and speedy arsenic a wink helium said 'US Open 2007' connected the spot.

"Like, I deliberation helium knows precise well. I deliberation helium wanted Stefanos to spot that interview. I don't know. Mind games earlier connected successful the tournament.

"Maybe helium could foretell that (meeting successful the final)."

Mind games aside, Masur believed Tsitsipas was the lone subordinate competing successful Melbourne that was presently susceptible of beating Djokovic.

The brace person met 12 times connected the tour, with Djokovic starring their bid 10-2 and winning their past 9 encounters.

"But he's (Tsitsipas) surely been competitive. And you got to retrieve to Novak's 35, Stefanos is 24. I judge he's getting better.

"So you know, results from 2 oregon 3 years agone are not arsenic applicable arsenic what we're going to spot successful that final.

"I deliberation helium is not without a chance. I deliberation he's the lone feline successful the gully that has a accidental and the crushed is service and forehand.

"The forehand has been connected opus for 2 weeks. If those 2 things are working, he's got a shot."

Winning matches astatine the Australian Open does not springiness Novak Djokovic each that overmuch trouble.

He has a 27 lucifer unbeaten run, the longest successful the 55 twelvemonth Open era.

And present Djokovic needs conscionable 1 much victory, against Stefanos Tsitsipas successful Sunday's final, to cod what would beryllium a record-extending 10th title determination and record-tying 22nd expansive slam trophy overall.

It's each of the different worldly — immoderate of his ain doing, immoderate not — that is simply a batch to handle.

His streak astatine Melbourne Park was enactment connected intermission a twelvemonth agone erstwhile helium got deported from Australia due to the fact that helium was not vaccinated against COVID-19, and helium has waffled betwixt acknowledging that offers other information this clip astir and besides saying, "I'm implicit it."

His parents and member are backmost astatine the tourney for the archetypal clip successful 15 years, but dada did not be Friday night's 7-5, 6-1 6-2 triumph implicit Tommy Paul successful the semi-finals aft drafting attraction by being seen 2 days earlier extracurricular Rod Laver Arena with radical showing enactment for Russia, whose penetration of Ukraine is present astir a twelvemonth old.

Djokovic isn't definite whether his begetter volition beryllium contiguous for the final.

Djokovic requested much than erstwhile portion competing past week that persistent hecklers should beryllium removed by information portion helium was playing.

His near hamstring was sore capable astatine the opening of the tourney that helium said helium was disquieted astir it, but took "a lot" of symptom sidesplitting pills and underwent different treatments helium didn't picture successful detail.

So however does the 35-year-old from Serbia compartmentalise each of that?

How does helium enactment it speech and play the mode helium has been?

Since dropping the 2nd acceptable of his 2nd circular match, Djokovic has won 14 sets successful a enactment and fixed up a full of lone 35 games successful that span.

"I mean, sounds similar a cliché, but you truly person to judge it. It's overmuch easier said than done. In my case, I consciousness similar things are conscionable benignant of piling on, adding on, somehow, for 1 crushed oregon another," helium said.

"I mean, it's not an perfect concern oregon condition to beryllium successful erstwhile you person to benignant of woody with each these different extracurricular factors that are not truly indispensable during specified an important event. But it's been portion of my life, unluckily the past fewer years, much so. I conscionable effort to germinate from it. I effort to go much resilient, much stronger."

There is plentifulness astatine involvement Sunday, for him and for Tsitsipas, a 24-year-old from Greece who volition beryllium appearing successful his 2nd expansive slam last — 31 less than Djokovic.

In summation to the championship, the victor volition determination up to No.1 successful the ATP rankings, a spot Djokovic has occupied much than anyone other and determination Tsitsipas has ne'er been.

"Couldn't beryllium much acceptable for this moment," Tsitsipas said aft beating Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 successful the semi-finals.

"I genuinely judge successful what I'm capable to produce," helium said.

"That is much than enough."

We'll spot if that is the lawsuit against Djokovic, who leads their head-to-head bid 10-2, including 9 consecutive victories.

One of those came successful the 2021 Roland-Garros final, which Tsitsipas led 2 sets to emotion earlier Djokovic came each the mode backmost to triumph successful five.

While Tsitsipas is inactive seeking his archetypal large title, Djokovic is hoping to necktie Rafael Nadal for the highest full by a antheral successful expansive slam history.

Djokovic besides has this going for him: helium is 19-0 combined successful semi-finals and finals astatine Melbourne Park.

"The acquisition of being successful this peculiar concern and circumstances earlier helps. Also the information that I ne'er mislaid the Australian Open last decidedly serves arsenic a large assurance booster anterior to Sunday," Djokovic said.

"But, of course, still, the occupation needs to beryllium done connected the court."

Which is wherever things bash thin to travel alternatively easy for him.