ATP
Australian Open Men’s Day 12
Novak Djokovic had to fight through an opening-set swoon as he held on to defeat Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 on Friday to reach the Australian Open final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Serb who is now one win away from record 10th title at Melbourne Park, had more than he might have expected from the 35th-ranked American who somehow found himself in a Grand Slam semi against all odds.
Djokovic had to battle not to let a 5-1 lead in the first set slip away,, barely holding on to complete a 7-5 rescue mission.
He had a massive 24 unforced errors in the opening set but quickly cleaned up his game.
The Serb then steadied but still had to work to go through to reach a 10th final here.
Djokovic has won his last 27 matches here, breaking the streak of Andre Agassi’s (26) set in 2000-04. Djokovic last lost in Melbourne in 2018 to Hyeon Chung.
He will play his 33rd final at a Grand Slam, winning 21 of them to trail the all-time best 22 of Rafael Nadal.
The 35-year-old stand a perfect 10-0 in Melbourne semi-finals and has gone on to win the trophy every time he has reached the last four at the Open.
He moved into a record-extending 33rd Grand Slam men’s singles final as a result of his win in just under two and a half hours.
“I’m not as fresh as at the beginning of the tournament but I still have enough gas in my legs to play at this level,” the winner said.
“Experience helps in these matches, but on court moment to moment, point to point, its a battle with yourself and the opponent.
“Neither of us had much time between points and we both had heavy legs in the first set.
“But I held my nerve towards the end of the set and started swinging through the ball more.
. “I’m just really pleased to get to the final,” he said on the 15th anniversary of his first Grand Slam title here over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“I could have never imagined how things would turn out, I’m trying to cherish every moment.
The final with Stefanos will be all business – let the better payer win.”
Tsitsipas was keeping his chance for a first Grand Slam trophy in perspective after his semi-final defeat of Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
“This is a very humbling opportunity for me,” the Greek third seed said after victory in nearly three and a half hours.
“Being in the finals here means a lot. Having started here as one of my first junior Grand Slams, and being now in the finals of the men’s event, is as important as my very first steps that I took on the tennis court.
‘I’m going to grasp this opportunity and get myself ready for this big day.”
Should he upset Djokovic on Sunday, Tsitsipas would move to the No. 1 ATP ranking for a first time.
“I remember watching it (Open final) on TV saying to myself, ‘I want to be there one day myself. I want to recreate that feeling for me.’
” I knew that’s a very long journey to get there. There are certain steps you have to take to give yourself the chance to be competing for something like this ”
Coming in, Djokovic has won their last eight meetings, including their latest at the ATP Finals two months ago in Turin.
He also defeated Tsitsipas from two sets to love down in the 2021 Roland Garros final, most recent of their two matches at the majors.
Main photo:- Australian Open 2023 Novak Djokovic wins semi final match by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
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