After thrashing Alex de Minaur within the fourth-round tie earlier this week, nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was requested on the rest of the draw. Of the seven males left, he narrowed it down to simply Stefanos Tsitsipas, however for Djokovic, their solely ever Grand Slam ultimate assembly, on the 2021 French Open, had pale into oblivion. (Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas Australian Open 2023 Remaining Reside Rating)
“Tsitsipas [is] most likely essentially the most skilled man out of all of the quarterfinalists. He has performed the ultimate levels of a Grand Slam fairly just a few instances. I believe he has by no means performed a ultimate. Am I improper?” requested Djokovic.
On being reminded by the journalist, he smirked and stated, “That is proper. Sorry, my dangerous.”
Within the context of their second Grand Slam ultimate assembly, and first ever tie on the Australian Open, one may name it thoughts video games. However for a participant so has incurred simply two losses in a Grand Slam since 2021 and solely two on the tour since Might final yr, it may very well be rightfully all the way down to the Serb’s sheer forgetfulness. Tsitsipas’ loss from two-set lead in Roland Garros is a part of his indomitable Slam streak. Add to that Djokovic’s 9-0 document within the Australian Open ultimate, 27-0 document in Melbourne Park since 2019 and 9-2 head-to-head document towards the Greek and the 24-year-old has one of many hardest limitations to interrupt in a bid to assert his maiden Grand Slam title.
However right here stands Tsitsipas, the one man, of the 63 others, from his part of the draw, standing between Djokovic and his unprecedented tenth title at Rod Laver Enviornment, having reached the ultimate by enjoying his career-best tennis. He certain has the weaponry to drag off an upset within the ultimate, however towards an opponent of this stature, Tsitsipas must be flawless together with his ability, constant together with his aggression and poised from the within. Forward of the blockbuster assembly within the Australian Open ultimate on the Rod Laver Enviornment, we take a tactical dive into the elements that might assist Stefanos Tsitsipas beat nine-time champion Novak Djokovic…
“Stefanos ought to name Daniil!”
When Karen Khachanov was requested about how Tsitsipas may beat Djokovic, moments after his semifinal loss to the third seed, the Russian was apt in mentioning that “no person from that era beat him, besides Daniil I believe within the US Open ultimate,” earlier than cheekily including, “Perhaps Stefanos has to name to Daniil to ask him what he did that day (smiling). I do not know if that is going to occur…”
It’s unlikely that Tsitsipas would give the 2021 US Open winner a name, given their on-court tensions, throughout their rivalry conferences, which is well-documented. However it would not hurt the Greek to maintain apart his variations and revisit Medvedev’s successful technique on the Flushing Meadows.
Bouncing again the beating he acquired from Djokovic within the Australian Open ultimate at the beginning of that yr, Medvedev determined to alter his plan and overload the Serb’s Advert court docket with umpteen backhand-to-backhand exchanges, though a lot of that tactic additionally relied on the Russian’s ultra-flat backhand which gave Djokovic nothing to work with.
Pull a leaf out of Holger Rune’s e book
The one participant to have troubled Djokovic since final Might, other than Rafael Nadal within the French Open quarters, was the younger Holger Rune. And it was Djokovic throughout his greatest run in 2022 and at considered one of his most favorite venues, the Paris Bercy. On again of titles in Tel Aviv and Astana, Djokovic had reached his eighth ultimate in Paris Masters, hoping so as to add a seventh title to his identify at Bercy. However his run was halted by an aggressive Rune who used a reasonably dangerous strategy in scripting a turnround within the match and it was all all the way down to his serve.
The Danish used the Serve + 1 forehand strategy which handed his 16 of the 18 factors. The technique allowed him to unsettle Djokovic by taking time away from him.
One of many essential elements that might alleviate Tsitsipas’ possibilities of beating Djokovic for the primary time in 10 conferences is sheer aggression – willingness to maintain the rallies quick, not enable Djokovic from settling into lengthy rallies and baseline exchanges, and are available to the online as usually as potential.