EEven before he underwent medical tests, explained the nature of his physical ailment and planned his recovery, Novak Djokovic knew that his stunning quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday What is there for them in the later days, which he ended. Despite struggling with left thigh pain.
As he suggested after the match, Djokovic will not be with Alexander Zverev on the practice courts at Melbourne Park for Friday’s semi-final. After missing Wednesday’s practice schedule, his scheduled 2 a.m. training session Thursday morning was scratched from the roster.
Andy Murray refused to speak to the media between matches, meaning there was no news from Djokovic’s camp. With little time to recover, maintaining muscle memory on court is the least of Djokovic’s problems. Time is devoted to his recovery.
He will need to be close to his best against one of the best players in the world. While the opportunity may not have the historical significance of facing a multiple Grand Slam champion and future legend like Alcaraz, second seed Xavier continues to be a seasoned, accomplished and deep-end player at most major tournaments. .
The pair first met eight years ago when a 20-year-old Zverev defeated Djokovic in the Rome Masters final, further reflecting Djokovic’s historic longevity. Although 10 years separate them in age, Djokovic has been at the top of the game long enough to see Zverev grow from a young upstart to a veteran.
While Zverev has beaten Djokovic three times since the final in Rome, including en route to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Djokovic has won all three of his Grand Slam matches.
Zverev is a fine athlete, at 1.98m he has one of the biggest serves in the game and an excellent two-handed backhand. Although he is most comfortable grinding far back from the baseline, he is capable of high-octane attacking play and has undoubtedly improved his second serve and volleys, allowing him to advance. is
And while Zverev is at the top of the game, he has failed to follow through on his early promise in the later stages of the biggest tournaments. His resume includes two Grand Slam finals and eight semifinals, he has won two ATP Finals and seven Masters 1000 titles. However, he has fallen time and again at the most important moments. He was two points from victory in his 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem, squandering a two-set lead, and he led from two sets to one against Alcaraz in the French Open final before losing last year. received
It is in the suffocating pressure of Grand Slam tournaments that the difference between Djokovic and Xavier is most pronounced. While Djokovic’s toughness and confidence are second to none, Zverev is often timid.
With Djokovic’s fitness still uncertain, the No. 1 seed, Janić Sr., is the favorite for the tournament. After a hard-fought four-set win over Holger Rooney, during which he was clearly ill, rumors swirled about the 23-year-old’s physical condition. His quarter-final response against Alex de Menor, a devastating demolition job, allayed all fears.
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It’s been two years since Ben Shelton first left the United States and began his first season as a professional. He dreamed of reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne, which highlighted his great potential.
The maturity the No. 21 seed has gained was evident when he navigated a tough draw, but also one that left the 22-year-old with just one top-30 opponent, No. 15 seed Lorenzo Masetti. presented a great opportunity with His five matches. He handled the pressure well to reach his second Grand Slam semifinal since the 2023 US Open.
Against a tyrannical sinner who has won 19 consecutive hard-court Grand Slams, Shelton’s challenge is simple. He will need to produce the best performance of his life, backed up by a relentless attack and to back himself up against an opponent who has spent the last year thriving under pressure. When he enters Rod Laver Arena for one of his biggest matches, Shelton will learn a lot about himself.
