Australian Open, day 13: Djokovic-Sinner and Zverev-Medvedev, the luxury semi-finals of the first “Big One” of the year

The first semi-final Australian Open It will be what the Serbian will dispute Novak Djokovic (1) with the young Italian Jannik Sinner (4), while in the second semi-final he will face the Russian Daniil Medvedev (3) with German Alexander Zverev (6). One more year, the 36-year-old Balkan arrives at the prelude to the final as the main candidate for the crown, first and foremost thanks to his love affair with the tracks of Melbourne Park, where he won the title on ten occasionsas well as for having recovered good sensations in the last two matches, against the French Adrian Mannarino and the American Taylor Fritz (13).

However, the champion of the 24 majors will have an event with an early final flavour, after one of the most dangerous tennis players today fell on his side of the scoreboard.

Jannik Sinner ended the season in the best possible way, lift the Davis Cup title with Italy after beating Djokovic in the semi-finaland became the only tennis player in the Australian Open who hasn’t lost a set since the start of the competition.

His only pending task, after making the leap to the noble zone of the ATP rankings, was to perform in the most demanding scenarios, but his two victories against the Serbian in the last part of the season, in the Davis Cup and ATP Finals, encouraged him to aspire to a Grand Slam crown.

The Serbian has a favorable direct match against the Transalpines (4-2), although Sinner has won two of the last three battles.

The match will start this Friday at 0:30 (Argentina time) and will be played at Rod Laver Arena and can be seen on ESPN and Star+.

Djokovic could match the local team Ken Rosewall as the tennis player with the most appearances in a Grand Slam final, after turning 35. She could also draw American Serena Williams with 367 competition victories bangand get close to the player with the most wins, the Swiss Roger Federer, who has 369.

The other semi-final will also be a ‘heavy’ duel

On the other side of the four, Medvedev and Zverev They will face each other for the first time in competition ‘greater’despite having seen each other 18 times.

The Russian has a favorable head-to-head score of 11-7 and lately he has been infallible against the German, having won five of the six matches played in 2023.

Both tennis players will need an excellent serve and will risk more than necessary to avoid putting a strain on a body damaged by the two five-set matches played in the previous rounds.

The Muscovite achieved victory in the final round against Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori and Polish Hubert Hurkacz (9), while the German did the same against Slovakian Lukas Klein and British Cameron Norrie (19).

Medvedev could book his ticket to what would be his third Australian Open final and Zverev could become the third German, behind compatriots Boris Becker and Rainer Schuettler, to reach the final on the banks of the Yarra River.

The second men’s semi-final is scheduled for this Friday at 05:30 (Argentina time).