10:16
Djokovic-Paul 4-1
But then Paul repeatedly blunders unnecessarily, equalizing in terms of unforced errors. And the next one is not far – number 13. This is too much.
10:14
Djokovic-Paul 4-1
Consequently, Paul has to step up. And maybe this rally will help him. The 25-year-old runs into a competitor’s stop and briefly plays his forehand cross to the winner.
10:14
Djokovic-Paul 4-1
Little continues to flow with Paul. The forehand inside-in hits the edge of the net and jumps out from there. In this condition, the American will not be able to pose a threat to the great master on the other side.
10:11
Djokovic-Paul 4-1
Then Paul falls short with the return, Djokovic moves up and places his backhand in the corner. Then Paul made his tenth mistake without need, which allowed the Serb to make it 4-1.
10:10
Djokovic-Paul 3-1
The Serb knows not to use the game ball he has won, which prevents the second double fault.
10:09 a.m
Djokovic-Paul 3-1
Djokovic hits the balls again in good time as desired – with the third ace and then with a risky drive volley with the forehand.
10:07
Djokovic-Paul 3-1
19 of the 30 points played so far were awarded through unforced errors, which says a lot about the level of the match. Djokovic committed eleven of them.
10:05
Djokovic-Paul 3-1
Then Paul pulls up a good rally and finally puts a lot of pressure inside-out with the forehand – and the point. And because Djokovic then gets too long with the forehand, the American records his first game win.
10:03
Djokovic 3-0 Paul
Djokovic is moving well, getting better and better. The Serb doesn’t let Paul develop at all. It’s good for him that he now has the first ace.
10:01 a.m
Djokovic 3-0 Paul
Gradually things are going better for Djoker, who increasingly dominates the rallies and drives Paul into a forehand error. The long-standing world number one manages the service game quite relaxed and pulls away 3-0.
09:59
Djokovic 2-0 Paul
Then the Serb turns it up, nails the opponent on his forehand side, finally runs around his own backhand and balances the forehand inside-in over the net.
09:58
Djokovic 2-0 Paul
Both players are trying to find their rhythm, so there’s certainly a lot of nervousness involved. This leads to a lot of errors. And despite the break, Djokovic is not immune to that either.
09:56
Djokovic 2-0 Paul
With a strong second serve, Paul fends off a break chance. But the second time it happens. The American throws a backhand into the net and gives up his service.
09:54
Djokovic 1-0 Paul
Paul continues to have problems from the baseline, becomes too long with forehand and backhand. 0:30! A net roller then lures him forward, but this backhand ball also makes contact with the ground too late. Three break points!
09:53
Djokovic 1-0 Paul
The second ace follows immediately. Djokovic pulls the game to his side after seven minutes and takes the lead.
09:52
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
A good first serve saves the Serb, who also fends off the second break ball. The 35-year-old then ignites the first ace.
09:51
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
Both haven’t set their sights properly yet. Now a backhand from Djokovic is too late. Once again we are at debut. Then another backhand from the Serb gets caught on the edge of the net.
09:50
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
Then there is the first somewhat longer rally. Paul tries to take the initiative but gets too long with the forehand.
09:49
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
Concentrated, the Serb fends off the break chance, serves well, can then move up and sinks the forehand. This is the first winning shot of the match.
09:48
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
Then Djokovic makes the first double mistake, which immediately results in a breakball.
09:47
Djokovic 0-0 Paul
The Djoker also makes mistakes without need – first with the forehand, then with the backhand. 15:30! Afterwards, you can at least rely on the serve.
09:45
1 sentence
At 7:45 p.m. local time, Djokovic opens the match with his left thigh still bandaged. The Serb has to try the second serve. Paul’s lead turn doesn’t make it over the net.
09:42
Head 2 Head
In fact, these two professionals meet for the first time, and of course they never faced each other in the junior division due to the age difference. So there are still such premieres between actually established players.
09:37
Entry and coin toss
At this moment, our protagonists enter the Rod Laver Arena court. After a few steps of preparation, you meet with the French chair umpire Damien Dumusois to vote at the net. The coin falls in favor of the Serb who decides to serve. Then both play a little.
09:31
record hunter
Where we are with the records, in this respect the Djoker is far from full. He already owns most of the Masters titles (38) – including the Golden Masters, namely having won all current 1,000 tournaments at least once. Then there were the Grand Slam triumphs. Here the Serb is at 21, but Rafael Nadal has one more in his pocket. Consequently, the six-time ATP champion could draw level with the Mallorcan on Sunday. In addition, the current world No. 5 has now accumulated a total of 92 tournament wins, the last of which was recently in Adelaide.
09:25
Number 1 again soon?
Should Djokovic actually win today, the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas would not just be about winning the tournament. Whoever prevails on Sunday will also climb to the top of the world rankings. The 35-year-old was at home on this throne for many years, standing there for a total of 373 weeks, which is also a lone record.
09:16
Djokovic at the Australian Open
Djokovic only gave up a set against the French qualifier Enzo Couacaud, previously beating Roberto Carballés Baena and then the seeded Grigor Dimitrov (27), Alex De Minaur (22) and Andrey Rublev (5). In his 18th participation since his debut in 2005, the 4th seeded Serb is in the semifinals for the tenth time and is aiming for his tenth title. The Djoker would thus further expand his record of Australian Open victories.
09:07
Paul in Melbourne
At the Australian Open, too, Paul is on the move in previously unattainable dimensions. After the US boy failed to qualify in 2018 and 2019, he was in the main draw for the first time the following year and is now doing so for the fourth time. Paul has never gotten past the third round before. As an unseeded player, the North American has eliminated German qualifier Jan-Jennard Struff, 30th seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, compatriot Jenson Brooksby, 24th seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and another compatriot in Ben Shelton .
08:57
For the first time in the semifinals
For the first time, Paul is in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament. So far, the round of 16 at Wimbledon 2022 was his best major result. In general, the 25-year-old has only won one title on the ATP tour – in Stockholm 2021. In 2015, the American was the junior French Open winner. The right-hander started this tournament as number 35 in the world and will find himself in the top 20 for the first time in the latest edition, that much is already certain.
08:47
Welcome
Welcome to the Australian Open! At the Happy Slam in Melbourne, the last men’s semi-final is on the agenda. At 9:30 a.m. CET at Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul will face off.