Djokovic locks up No. 1 spot ahead of Australian Open final

Novak Djokovic meets Jannik Sinner for a spot within the Australian Open final on Friday, boosted by the knowledge he can’t be toppled as world primary after the shock exit of Carlos Alcaraz.

The Serbian superstar will resume his march towards an eleventh title and a record twenty fifth Grand Slam crown within the afternoon session on Rod Laver Arena, again bumped from his favoured evening slot.

The 36-year-old complained about feeling “trapped” by the oppressive heat on court when he battled past Taylor Fritz within the quarter-finals because the temperatures topped 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

It’s forecast to be about 10 degrees cooler on Friday, and Djokovic is decided to maintain intact his 33-match unbeaten streak at Melbourne Park stretching back to 2018.

He didn’t compete on the event in 2022 as a consequence of his coronavirus vaccination status.

“I’m aware of the streak that I’m on and the quantity of matches that I even have won in my profession on the Rod Laver Arena. I don’t wish to let that go,” he said.

“The longer the streak goes, the more that form of confidence, also expectations built, but additionally the willingness to essentially walk the additional mile, so to say.”

Whatever happens, he’ll remain world primary.

Djokovic, Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all began the season’s first major with a probability to depart Melbourne because the top-ranked player.

But after Alcaraz’s defeat to Alexander Zverev within the quarter-finals, the Serb can’t be supplanted.

If Medvedev wins the title, he’ll claim Alcaraz’s world number two spot.

Italian fourth seed Sinner is in the shape of his life and can take comfort from beating Djokovic on the ATP Finals and Davis Cup late last season.

“That is what I practise for, to play against the most effective players on the earth,” said the 22-year-old, who’s targeting a maiden Grand Slam title.

“Obviously has an incredible record here, so for me it’s a pleasure to play against him, especially in the ultimate stages of the tournament where things are just a little bit more interesting.

“I’m looking forward to it, to be honest. It’s going to be tough.”

 Extremely confident

Alexander Zverev, left, of Germany is congratulated by Carlos Alcaraz of Spain following their quarterfinal match on the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, early Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sixth seed Zverev is thru to the last 4 after his upset of Alcaraz, weathering a giant fightback from the Spaniard over 4 sets to earn a showdown with Medvedev.

He has played the Russian third seed 18 times before, and has lost five of the past six.

“A variety of matches were extremely close, obviously,” said the 26-year-old German, who remains to be looking for a breakthrough Grand Slam title.

“You realize, plenty of the times it got here right down to him being extremely confident last yr, him playing a few of the most effective tennis of his life, and me getting back from injury and never having the arrogance in deciding moments.

“But yeah, he’s obviously extremely difficult to play. Absolute confidence about it. He’s probably the greatest players on the earth at once.”

Medvedev is into an eighth major semi-final, but has only won one title — on the 2021 US Open.

He made the ultimate at Melbourne in 2021 and 2022, but succumbed to Novak Djokovic then Rafael Nadal, and has made clear he desires to go the way in which this time.

Despite being broken 18 times throughout the tournament and being forced to fight through two gruelling five setters, he isn’t concerned about his form.

“I see Novak I feel got broken also. It’s perhaps something with the balls or the court,” he said.

“I’m really not an excessive amount of nervous about this, especially if you win matches. I feel like I’m actually serving good. But, yeah, good that I manage to be within the semis getting broken 18 times.”