Australian Open: Novak Djokovic qualifies for the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas to remain on his way to winning his tenth title in Melbourne | Tennis News

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Novak Djokovic set up a final against Stefanos Tsitsipas after staying on course to win his 10th Australian Open title in Melbourne on Friday.

The Serb overcame first-set setbacks to defeat unheralded American Tommy Ball 7-5 6-1 6-2 to reach his 33rd Grand Slam final where he bids to equal Rafael Nadal’s record 22 titles.

His 7-5 6-1 6-2 victory over American Paul looked obvious on the scoreboard but he certainly didn’t feel that way when Djokovic dropped four straight matches 5-1 in the first set.

But he recovered to move up front and from there eased to the finish line.

Djokovic vs Paul: The Tape Tale Djokovic Match Stats Paul 12 Aces 4 5 Double Faults 0 75% 1st serve win percentage 53% 55% 2nd serve win percentage 44% 7/11 break points won 9/2 12/15 net points won By 14/8 31 Total winners 18 39 Unforced errors 32100 Total points achieved 68

Djokovic will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in a repeat of the 2021 French Open final, in which he came from two sets down to defeat Greece.

Third seed Tsitsipas earlier beat Karen Khachanov in four sets to reach his first Australian Open final, while a rematch against Djokovic will see the winner overtake Carlos Alcaraz and take the world number one.

“I’m really happy to get to another final,” said Djokovic, 35, who set a new record 27-match winning streak here. “I respect him (Tsitsipas) a lot, he’s improved a lot over the years. I actually think he’s one of the most interesting players on tour with his off-court interests, his hairstyle. But it’s all about business on Sunday. Let the best player win.”

At times, it felt like love for the Serb at Rod Laver Arena, as his fans packed the stadium to welcome him back.

It was different here, with first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Paul growing in support as he threatened to do the unthinkable in the first set.

on fire?

Novak Djokovic is the third male player in the Open Era to give up the fewest matches combined in the fourth round, quarterfinals and semifinals (20) to advance to the Australian Open final after Ivan Lendl in 1990 (20) and Andre Agassi in 2003 (16).

Djokovic looked nervous at first but was not punished, saving two break points in the opener and coming out on top in all the big moments to move into a 5-1 lead.

He then got into a fight with referee Damien Dumusois at the start of the shot clock and lost 11 of the next 13 points, losing serve twice in a row.

But Paul was unable to hold serve to force a tie-breaker, and Djokovic, to the boos of the crowd, kept returning to his seat signaling the noise was getting louder.

Winning the first set allowed Djokovic, who again showed no sign of being bothered by his left hamstring problem, to rest a bit.

Invincible Djokovic

Novak Djokovic became the fourth oldest male player in the Open Era to reach the final at the Australian Open, younger than Ken Rosewall (1972 and 1971), Mal Anderson (1972) and Roger Federer (2018).

He broke at the start of the second set and from there Paul, a willing runner with a good backhand but no big weapon, could land no more than a passing jab at Djokovic, who pulled off a one-sided victory in his home country. Bid for the 22nd Grand Slam title.

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