All eyes will be on Novak Djokovic when he takes on Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the Australian Open tomorrow.
The 10-time winner of the Melbourne slam has not practised since his epic four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday due to a thigh strain sustained against the Spaniard.
Djokovic admitted he was concerned by the injury as he prepares to face the second seed on Rod Laver Arena.
He said after the Alcaraz clash: “I’ll take it day by day. Now it’s really about recovery. I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But, if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, and emotionally, I’m as motivated as I can be.
“I’m just pleased with the way I was able to play throughout the entire tournament, including against one of the best players, one of the two or three best players in the word in the last three, four years. It’s just a great win. I’m very proud of it.”
🎥 Highlights from the epic Melbourne 2025 chapter of the Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry 😍 pic.twitter.com/xNl7L9nh7g
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025
It is not the first time in his career that Djokovic has seemingly been struggling with an injury and former world number one Boris Becker urged his countryman Zverev to focus on his own game and not get distracted by his opponent’s issues.
“Novak has been through it all,” the six-time Grand Slam winner told Eurosport.
“No one has played more grand slam matches, no one has won more grand slams. He really has experienced everything you can experience on the tennis court.
“Sascha has to stick to his game and show his strengths – his serve, his baseline strokes and his fitness. He mustn’t let himself be put off his game, whatever his opponent does.”
Zverev has flown under the radar to get to this stage but has dropped just two sets in five matches as he seeks a maiden grand slam crown.
📰 Table Of Contents
Can Shelton stop the Sinner juggernaut?
The winner will take on either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in Sunday’s final.
Top seed and defending champion Sinner has also had his health worries and looked to be struggling during his fourth round win over Holger Rune.
But he was back to his best in demolishing home favourite Alex De Minaur in the quarters.
“After the match against Holger we made some blood tests,” said the Italian.
“They were all solid, all good.
“Sometimes it can happen that you just feel not that well in that day. [Wednesday] I woke up feeling much, much better. I told my team straightaway that I’m feeling good tonight.
“Obviously playing not with the heat helps you, especially when you are not feeling that well.”
BIG BEN’S TIME.
Ben Shelton clocks into a maiden AO semifinal! 🇺🇸#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/7k2qRVlkIm
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025
Sinner holds a 4-1 head-to-head record but that does not mean the American will go for broke in a bid to change his fortunes.
“I don’t think I’ll be redlining,” said Shelton.
“If anything, I’ve been, in terms of my baseline play, a bit more conservative this tournament, okay with going deep in rallies. Probably have to step that up a little bit in the semifinals.
“I think that I’m figuring out ways to make guys uncomfortable without just playing at my upper limits and slapping.”
Order of Play
Rod Laver Arena
not before 1430 local time
(7) N Djokovic v (2) A Zverev
From 1930 local time
(1) J Sinner v (21) B Shelton
How to watch
The Australian Open will be shown in the US on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Check the listings for start times.
Predictions
Novak Djokovic v Alexander Zverev
Tough to predict given we have no knowledge of the severity of Djokovic’s apparent injury.
Even assuming he’s fit, a Djokovic win would not be a certainty.
There has been a feeling for a while that Zverev will get over the line relatively soon and claim a first major. We think he’s got an excellent chance here.
Zverev to win in four sets
Jannik Sinner v Ben Shelton
Yes, Shelton has the big serve and the big game, and, yes, his record at hard court slams is good.
But Sinner’s performance against De Minaur was better than anything seen at the tournament so far.
Sinner to win in three sets
