Key events
Djokovic 4-1 *Paul (*denotes next server)
Paul has a sniff at 0-30. In characteristic style, Djokovic fights back to game point at 40-30, including a dismissive, majestic forehand volley that leaves his opponent flat-footed. A double fault next, though, and deuce, after a tight line call …
Djokovic shakes his head, but soon gets back down to business, and closes out the game. As he sits down for a drink, he is gesturing to his team about something, and doesn’t look happy. A glance at the scoreboard might cheer him up – he’s a break up and on course to take the first set.
Paul is trying to upset him with some punishing ground strokes from the back of the court, but he hasn’t troubled the Serb significantly thus far.
Emma Kemp
To a sea of Greek flags and their holders chanting his name, next gen’s nearly man did what he has not quite a few times before. Since 2019 when, right here at Melbourne Park, Stefanos Tsitsipas upset Roger Federer en route to his first grand slam semi-final, he has made the semis four times. Three of those came at the Australian Open, his self-described “home slam”, but it was only the 2021 French Open at which he took the next step, before losing the final to Novak Djokovic after giving up a two-set lead.
As of Friday the 24-year-old can lay claim to two deciders, after arm-wrestling Karen Khachanov into submission for a 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3, a victory he has dreamed of since watching Marcos Baghdatis in his 2006 Australian Open final loss to Federer on television as a child.
*Djokovic 3-1 Paul (*denotes next server)
At 30-30 it’s Paul’s turn to belt a point-winning forehand for the corner, but he hits this one inside-out to Djokovic’s forehand side, leaping off the hard court to apply maximum power. It’s a sensational shot under pressure that Djokovic gets his racket to, but cannot return. That buys Paul a game point, which he promptly converts. Well done.
Djokovic 3-0 *Paul (*denotes next server)
Worrying signs for Paul at 15-15, when Djokovic opens his shoulders and powers a clean forehand winner to the corner. Too good.
Paul then limply nets again from the baseline for 40-15. He can’t afford to do that.
Djokovic then plays an identical big forehand to that same corner – it’s not as sweetly struck as the one before – but it’s enough to draw a mishit from the American, who looks a bit sheepish as he sits down for a drink.
*Djokovic 2-0 Paul (*denotes next server)
Paul hits long twice for 0-30. And then again, coming to attack the net, for 0-40. After that lengthy battle in the first game, the second one shapes up to be over very quickly indeed.
Paul wins one point – thanks to an error by Djokovic – but another unforced error by the American, from the baseline, hands the Serb the early break.
Djokovic 1-0 *Paul (*denotes next server)
First up, Paul immediately tries to attack Djokovic’s second serve, but nets an ambitious, high-velocity return for 15-0. Djokovic messes up a smash for 15-15, and Paul has a flicker of a chance at 15-30, after again looking to attack, hitting powerfully from the baseline.
Djokovic takes it back to 30-30 with an unreturnable serve … but then double faults! It’s a break point for Paul at the first time of asking.
A beefy serve down the middle from the Serb gets him out of a hole. Deuce. Djokovic soon has advantage, too, but hits long and it’s back to parity.
A second break point for Paul comes when Djokovic hits an odd, tired looking backhand into the net. But again he produces a powerful first serve to save himself, then thumps an ace out wide. Another ace, down the middle, and that’s the game. A positive approach from Paul, anyway, and early work to do for Djokovic.
Warm-ups are done. Djokovic to serve. Let’s go.
Here come the players on to Rod Laver Arena. “It’s time for the match,” says the Eurosport presenter, Alizé Lim. She’s not wrong.
Tommy Paul “is a great athlete and very solid from the baseline”, says Barbara Schett on Eurosport.
Mats Wilander adds of Paul’s potential approach: “He has to be prepared to risk everything … he has to take it to Djokovic.”
“Hit winners from the back of the court, and don’t make mistakes,” adds the super-coach, Tim Henman.
Yesterday, both women’s semi-finals were high-quality matches. Tomorrow’s final will be a collision between two big hitters – Elena Rybakina, who defeated Victoria Azarenka, will meet Aryna Sabalenka, who progressed to her first grand-slam final after dispatching the unseeded Polish player Magda Linette.
One men’s semi-final is complete: Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 3 seed, awaits in Sunday’s final following his four-set win against Karen Khachanov. (I would write Karen Khachanov of Russia, but of course he was competing under a ‘neutral’ flag.)
Tumaini Carayol
Srdjan Djokovic, the father of Novak Djokovic, has said he will not attend his son’s Australian Open semi-final match against Tommy Paul on Friday night and he had “no intention of being caught up” in any disruption after being filmed with pro-Vladimir Putin spectators on Wednesday night.
Preamble
Can anyone stop Novak Djokovic? Specifically, can Tommy Paul stop Novak Djokovic? It seems unlikely. But no one would have given the unseeded American, ranked No 35 in the world, a hope of making it this far. He came through a second-round five-setter against Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina of Spain, and conquered Andy Murray’s nemesis, Roberto Bautista Agut, in the fourth round.
He’s had a fine run, and evoked memories of former American greats such as Andy Roddick, the last US male player to make a semi-final at Melbourne Park. But Paul is facing the nine-times champion on his favourite court, the venue at which he has achieved the most success. The Serb also seems extra-motivated (if that is even possible) following last year’s Covid vaccination furore, but he has, as usual, been dogged by controversy.
The waiting will be over in a few minutes, with Djokovic aiming for a crack at a 10th Australian Open title. Let’s do this.
