Once more, the Australian Open has lived to its billing of being the best tennis battleground there is, and its semis this year promise to be nothing short of grand. On 24th January, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev will square off in a blockbuster match with one slot for the final position. Djokovic is justifying why he is one of the greatest players in tennis history, while Zverev is determined to give himself a boost with his first Grand Slam title in his career.
The stage is all set for an epic match as both the players have played hard-fought quarter-final wins. Who will rise to the occasion and inch closer to glory at the Australian Open? Let's break it down.
Claim Your Welcome BonusNovak Djokovic
A reason Djokovic has become synonymous with success at the Australian Open, of course. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has dominated in Melbourne all through his career and seeks yet another title to add more cement to his legacy. Coming into this semifinal ranked ATP No. 7, Djokovic comes off an imperious 3-1 victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic was simply mental and tactical against Alcaraz, coming back from a 4-6 first set to win the next three with laser-like precision: 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Looking at his statistics from the quarterfinal-5 aces, 63% in first serves, and 6 out of break points converted-even more fully reveal his well-developed capabilities to manage critical points throughout the match.
With huge experience and a formidable record against Zverev, the favoritism in this encounter goes to Djokovic. But maintaining consistency in his first serve and trying to reduce his unforced errors would be what keeps his path clear.
Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev heads into this semis tie with new confidence and rhythm. The world's ATP No. 2 German ace has sealed his place after beating Tommy Paul 3-1 in a fatiguing win, after he came from behind twice in a tie-break, winning the last two sets quite convincingly. The final result-6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-1-represents a tale of Zverev's good adaptation and resilience.
Statistics of Zverev's quarterfinal reveal some firepower: 7 aces, 70% first-serve percentage, and saving 63% of break points. A big game out of his serve and the baseline could make him dangerous for anybody, including Djokovic. However, he committed 5 double faults and lost focus a couple of times at crucial stages of the match.
He will need to bring his A-game, keep his cool, and find a way to counter the Serb's exceptional return game if he is to cause an upset and book his place in the final.
Head to Head
Djokovic holds a 7-3 advantage in head-to-heads with Zverev, including winning the last clash in straight sets at the 2023 ATP 1000 Cincinnati. Serbian supremacy over his opponent over the past battles, especially on hard courts, might give him some psychological advantage, but Zverev has won three of these matches, among them a dramatic win at the 2021 ATP Finals.
Expert Betting Tips
Novak Djokovic to Win @ 1.667 (1xbet):
The better head-to-head record for Djokovic and his recent form make him the safer option for an outright win.
Djokovic to Win Set 1 @ 1.65 (Betway):
Djokovic's knack for starting strong and setting the tone makes him a good look to take the opening set.
Total Games Over 40 @ 1.80 (Bet365):
A contest as closely contested as this will surely have a high total games count between the two elite players in the court.
Other predictions
