| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 16-29 January |
| Coverage: Commentary every single day from 07:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra ‘Tennis Breakfast’ dwell from Melbourne, with chosen dwell textual content commentaries and match experiences on the BBC Sport web site & app |
Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic has reached the Australian Open semi-finals, sweeping apart fifth seed Andrey Rublev in a devastating show.
Serbia’s Djokovic, 35, lower a pissed off determine at occasions however channelled his feelings right into a ruthless 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over Russia’s Rublev in Melbourne.
The fourth seed, who once more had his left thigh strapped, will play American Tommy Paul within the final 4 on Friday.
Paul, 25, ended Ben Shelton’s shock run to achieve a primary main semi-final.
World quantity 35 Paul received 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 5-7 6-4 in opposition to 20-year-old compatriot Shelton on Rod Laver Arena.
Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet Russian Karen Khachanov in Friday’s different semi-final.
Former world primary Djokovic, who was the one main champion within the males’s quarter-finals, is favorite for the title as he chases a record-equalling twenty second Grand Slam.
Beating Rublev was his twenty sixth consecutive win at Melbourne Park, equalling the Open-era streak recorded by American Andre Agassi.
“I couldn’t be happier with my tennis. I’m enjoying solidly from the again of the court docket and love these circumstances,” stated Djokovic, who has not been practising on the times between matches.
“I’m going to maintain going. I feel it is essential to be good and sensible with the physique in these circumstances the place it is extra essential to recuperate and prepare for the subsequent problem.”
Djokovic races by one other win
Djokovic appeared near his greatest in a dominant win over Alex de Minaur within the fourth spherical, however the best way he demolished an opponent of upper pedigree in Rublev was much more spectacular.
Much of the discuss has centred across the scale of Djokovic’s hamstring harm, and racing by one other victory – this one in little greater than two hours – appears to be one of the best ways to guard the issue.
Rublev has some of the highly effective forehands within the sport, however was dispirited by Djokovic’s exact and constant returning.
Asked if it was his greatest efficiency of the match, Djokovic stated: “I’d rank it as quantity two however it is extremely near the efficiency of two nights in the past [against De Minaur].
“Overall, the scoreline within the first two units does not inform the reality of the shut video games we had.
“If I’ve to sum it up, in all of the essential moments I performed the appropriate pictures and the appropriate tennis – that is what pleases me probably the most.”
After saving a break level in his first service sport, Rublev miscued a forehand to convey up one other within the subsequent and meekly handed it over with a double fault as Djokovic moved 3-1 forward.
Djokovic was irritated by a heckler through the sixth sport but it surely didn’t disrupt his rhythm as he took Rublev’s serve once more for 5-1, permitting him to serve out the opening set however solely after seeing off two break factors.
Despite enjoying beautifully and being in command, Djokovic didn’t look fully pleased and had a frank change with coach Goran Ivanisevic early within the second set.
Whatever was stated labored, Djokovic profitable the subsequent seven factors to maneuver a break forward and take management once more.
A ferocious roar got here when he fought off two break factors for 4-2, and Rublev’s personal annoyance was audible when he was damaged within the subsequent sport.
Rublev had misplaced all six of his earlier main quarter-finals and dealing with Djokovic as he aimed to finish that run was the very last thing he needed.
The Russian joked after his last-16 win that he wished he was within the reverse facet of the draw to Djokovic – but it surely was no laughing matter as he grew to become more and more despondent on the best way to dropping the second set.
His temper grew to become extra forlorn as he was damaged within the first sport of the third, and Djokovic was not threatened as he served out victory to achieve his tenth semi-final at Melbourne Park.
Paul ‘cannot imagine’ Melbourne run
Paul, the primary American males’s semi-finalist on the Australian Open since 2009, reached the fourth spherical of a significant for the primary time at Wimbledon final yr and had not beforehand moved past spherical three at Melbourne Park.
But he additional prolonged his greatest ever Slam run in opposition to big-serving world quantity 89 Shelton, who was bidding to turn out to be solely the fourth man within the Open period to achieve a semi-final inside his first two Grand Slam appearances.
“Making it to the second weekend of a Slam is everybody’s dream once they begin enjoying tennis, so I can not imagine I’m right here proper now,” stated Paul.
Shelton, nonetheless taking on-line school lessons, had never left the United States before travelling to Australia.
It has been a breakthrough match for left-hander Shelton, ranked outdoors of the highest 500 a yr in the past, as he demonstrated his expertise throughout 4 victories regardless of arriving in Melbourne with “no expectations”.
Shelton, who hit 24 aces, noticed his alternatives restricted as he fell two units down in opposition to the constant Paul, however he seized his probabilities within the third as he battled again impressively from a break all the way down to power a fourth set.
However, Paul wouldn’t be denied once more. He restored order with a direct break of serve and went on to confidently serve out the most important win of his profession after Shelton, who left the court docket to a standing ovation, pressured him to take action by saving a match level.
