Who can stop Novak Djokovic who has been advancing in Terminator mode since the start of the Australian Open? Between the Serb and a 22nd Grand Slam title (Rafael Nadal’s record) and his 10th in Melbourne, only the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas now stands, whom he will face in the final on Sunday. This Friday, on the court of the Rod Laver Arena, he took out in three sets the surprise guest of the semi-finals, the American Tommy Paul (7-5, 6-1, 6-2). If the score is severe, it does not tell the incomprehensible air gap that Djokovic experienced in the first set, compiling 24 faults and letting his opponent go up from 1-5 to 5 everywhere. Tsitsipas had a little more trouble against Russian Karen Khachanov but still got away with it in 4 sets 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.
The two men have already met in the final of a Grand Slam tournament. It was at Roland-Garros, in 2021. Djokovic had been led two sets to zero. Sunday’s winner will be the future world No. 1. The trend points to the Serb as he has rolled and compressed his opponents and has been particularly impressive since the round of 16 with his tennis as clinical as it is lethal. Reassuring his fans about his thigh pain which had propelled him to the brink of abandonment in the second round, against the Frenchman Couacaud, the only one to have stolen a set from him since the start of the fortnight. We know his adversaries who are quick to denounce his art of commedia dell’arte, presenting him almost as a Neymar of the courts. But if he simulates his injury to the left thigh, which accredits the imposing strip that surrounds him, The “Djoker” deserves an interpretation prize in any festival.
Tsitsipas didn’t prove as imperial in Melbourne, but his epic quarter-final win over Sinner proved he had the tennis and mental resources to clinch his maiden Grand Slam title. Especially since he said he felt like he was playing at home with all the Australians of Greek origin who gave a thunderous slap in each of his matches. Will that be enough on Sunday in the final against Djokerminator? Αυτη ειναι Η ερωτηση (that is the question), which his fans are asking. Those of the Serb, they do not doubt more than their idol.