Australian Open Men’s Semifinals: Djokovic v Sinner, Medvedev v Zverev

As I said, Sinner is man to beat this AO, not Nole, the most improved player in the last 12 months, by miles.

Everything comes to an end, so it’s Nole’s invincibility once he reaches SF of AO, couldn’t pick the better man to finish that invincibility.

January 26th, 2024 at 12:30 am

If Djokovic takes set 3, he will win in 5.

January 26th, 2024 at 1:57 am

Doubt it. This was one of those big games where Djokovic couldn’t find his A game. He won the 3rd, but I think he’ll be happy with that, just not getting swept in 3 sets by lopsided scores. One set for respectability, lose in 4.
Can’t win them all and Sinner looked good when I saw 4 games in set 2 before I stopped watching. It’s late in the US and I’ll catch the lowlights in the afternoon tomorrow after business.

January 26th, 2024 at 2:53 am

@kjb

If Djokovic wins set 3. He wins in 5.

That didn’t age well.

Sinner has played great.

January 26th, 2024 at 3:13 am

“This was one of those big games where Djokovic couldn’t find his A game.”

Exactly, best returner in the game could get one single break point in four sets and Sinner’s first serve was 58%?!

January 26th, 2024 at 3:24 am

“should say “couldn’t get”

January 26th, 2024 at 3:25 am

Congrats, Sinner! And good luck in the final!

For Nole this was not a bad result given his form at this tournament. I would say, he did not look so motivated, as he was last year at the AO. He cannot win them all! And he is still Nr. 1.😉

January 26th, 2024 at 3:49 am

Was going to mention even though he is going out a perfectly respectable semi-finalist, and 1200 points go away, he will still be number one. VP beat me to that. But it’s a good discussion thing as the AO will be done soon..

He gets to 411 somehow this year or next year he has a 100 more weeks as #1 than the next guy, Federer. 416 would be 8 years as #1.
He also has few points to defend until the French Open.

Djokovic is close to other records, like a triple Big ATP Titles sweep All 4 Slams, All 9 Masters, plus an ATP championship. Needs just Monte Carlo to make a triple.
Another French Open would be 4 career Slam Sweeps.
98 titles now, only Fed 103 and Connors 109 ahead of him. Bet he leads all by far with Big Titles. A lot of Rogers and Jimmy’s titles were ATP 250 level events.

January 26th, 2024 at 4:46 am

Music to my ears! Faker OUT!

January 26th, 2024 at 4:58 am

Always thought Sinner had the tools to beat Djokovic. his game is BIG. But after Djoker squeezed out the TB, thought Sinner would let the nerves kick in. He’d never been here before. This time he did not and remained steady and his resolve was intact. My question is will he become consistent at what he does, big serve, big groundies, and separate himself from the rest? His transition game and volleys needs work.

Djoker looked mentally burned out, and his focus on his game was lacking, and that could have also been to Sinners doing. All credit to Sinner, will for sure watch the final now.

January 26th, 2024 at 11:26 am

Always thought Sinner had the tools to beat Djokovic. his game is BIG. But after Djoker squeezed out the TB, thought Sinner would let the nerves kick in. He’d never been here before. This time he did not and remained steady and his resolve was intact. My question is will he become consistent at what he does, big serve, big groundies, and separate himself from the rest? His transition game and volleys needs work.

Djoker looked mentally burned out, and his focus on his game was lacking, and that could have also been to Sinners doing. All credit to Sinner, will for sure watch the final now.

January 26th, 2024 at 11:27 am

https://x.com/keenjodie/status/1750828993421750762?s=61 Virus shmirus!
Lolololol

January 26th, 2024 at 12:38 pm

Piss off faker! Take a looooong break. 😱😱😱😱😱

January 26th, 2024 at 12:41 pm

I have seen well over 90% of Novak’s matches across his entire career. This loss was different. There are inevitabilities on and off the court. Hungry men like Sinner & Alcaraz is one, aging is another. And maybe the most pressing inevitability was hinted at by his dad last year. His dad the family patriarch said it was time to retire. Novak’s son is approaching adolescence. Teen age boys need their dad at home.

January 26th, 2024 at 12:43 pm

Giles,

I think you need to take a break – there is no need to use that kind of language here. At all.

Skeezer,

“skeezer Says:
Always thought Sinner had the tools to beat Djokovic. his game is BIG.”

It was a match I did not expect S to win, but boy he bounced about magnificently. I think that Nole was still in the game, but perhaps he just needed to fill up the tank a little.

Anyway, no 25th trophy this time, but he has done extremely well throughout the whole tournament and given plenty of hope to the fans!

This is turning into a bit of a shocker tournament.

January 26th, 2024 at 2:55 pm

The commentators were saying that Novak seemed to be out of sorts from the get go. My first thought was that he was not wanting the daytime match. Then they mentioned it was not as hot like it usually is. I personally think the daytime match was the culprit, aside from Sinner being the biggest culprit! He played absolutely fantastic! He is such a likable kid. I love this guy! I definitely want him to lift the trophy, but it will be a tall order against Meddy, who seems to be able to retrieve anything and everything!! Will definitely watch the finals. I think hard hitting Sabalenka will defend her title.

January 26th, 2024 at 7:13 pm

Giles, you might want to read your own post link before posting it and commenting on it. In that Twitter link, it wasn’t Djokovic speculating a virus caught up with him. It was the poster, a Pavvy G, that said it.
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Quinwen Zheng’s biography seems to indicate she is on of the 1.1 billion Han ethnics in China born in Hubei equidistant to Wuhan and the 1st Han Chinese emperor’s tomb location – but she looks darker skinned with Mongolian/Korean features. Good for China anyways and for tennis biz, to have a top Chinese player again..She will be very rich, very soon!
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Also good to see the fans like so many Russian players while the tennis establishment has tried putting them in black hats and lionizing the Noble Ukrainian players of nearly unlimited moral authority. The establishment did not count on how personable and likeable players like Sabelenka, Andrey Rublev, and Daniil Medvedev are. Great ambassadors of how worthy and relatable so many Russians are.
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Funniest thing at the AO in interviews was asking Alcaraz, who is still learning English, what women players he liked watching. And his “freezing” was over thinking the reporter literally wanted to know what girls and MILFs he liked to ooggle and dream of sleeping with or declaring how hot they were.
Tennis is very PC now and players are coached in avoiding stepping in some cancel culture moment in press interviews.

January 26th, 2024 at 8:22 pm

And that includes the Belo-Russians!
And if Carlito could be honest and not crucified for it, I would not be surprised if Paula Badosa and Irene/Aryna Sabalenka are at or near the top of his “most watchable” list.

January 26th, 2024 at 8:27 pm

“….and lionizing the Noble Ukrainian players of nearly unlimited moral authority….”

Agree, and letting them of the hook when they test positive, like they did to drug cheat Dayana Yastremska.

It would be really poetic justice if “no flag” players lift the trophies.

January 26th, 2024 at 10:18 pm

It has been confirmed, Nole isn’t playing until 6th of March, his next tournament is IW, meaning he is playing sunshine double.

That’s what he was supposed to do after WTF, to take proper break and not playing DC and UC.

One thing is baffling me, sacking at the end of last year long time manager Eduardo Artaldi and his partner Elena stating that he is entering “new chapter” in his career?!
What “new chapter” and why would you do that at the end of your career knowing that Eduardo Artaldi was with you in all but one GSs he won, something doesn’t add up?

January 27th, 2024 at 4:19 am

Okie I agree Sinner was the player to beat Novak, it seems fitting that he should be the one to now win the trophy, having said that it’s as you say Medvedev can get everything back so will be a tough match for him, all said one I’m looking forward to

January 27th, 2024 at 6:16 am

Al, I think the majority of the tennis world is wanting to see a new champion at the Aussie Open this year……just like they do at the Frenchy! Lol. The Aussie final will be a cracker! Enjoy!! 😊😊

January 27th, 2024 at 6:35 am

Wot? Faker won’t play till 6 March 2025? Yipeeee!

January 27th, 2024 at 6:48 am

2024 Giles

January 27th, 2024 at 8:34 am

Alison. Lolol I know. But my eyes are reading 2025. Maybe it’s wishful thinking!

January 28th, 2024 at 6:26 am

Where oh where is XYZ? Licking his wounds no doubt!

January 28th, 2024 at 7:00 am

Ask and ye shall receive Giles. I’m here and although I’m saddened that this was not GS #25 I am very happy that Janik has broken his cherry. Having said that, I would have been just as happy if Daniil had taken #2.

I’m looking forward to 418 weeks at number #1 for Novak because that will be literally TWICE Rafa’s 209 weeks at #1 (Giles you can check that on a calculator you little dimwitted man).

January 29th, 2024 at 7:15 pm