Tommy Paul

2023 - 1 - 27

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Australian Open 2023 semi-final: Novak Djokovic v Tommy Paul – live (The Guardian)

Friday is men's semi-final day in Melbourne and the favourite is squaring off with the American outsider. Join Luke McLaughlin.

At 30-30 there is another fantastic rally but the Serb gets it done this time and has a chance to get the double break … But Paul is facing the nine-times champion on his favourite court, the venue at which he has achieved the most success. This is a very commendable comeback from the world No 35, who looked to be completely out of the running in this first set when he was a double break down and Djokovic was serving for it. At 30-30 it’s Paul’s turn to belt a point-winning forehand for the corner, but he hits this one inside-out to Djokovic’s forehand side, leaping off the hard court to apply maximum power. At advantage to the American, Djokovic hits wide, and Paul has broken back! Djokovic has 30-0, and a chance for 40-0, but hits long with another expansive, powerful attempted winner from the back of the court. Then there is a long, long, attritional rally from the baseline. Paul holds to -15, clinching it with an accomplished volley after a rare foray to the net. He soon has set point, and much like Paul a few moments ago, grinds his opponent down from the baseline in another lengthy rally. A crowd-pleasing point to begin, Paul managing to defend and keep the rally going in unlikely fashion. He already has a double break in the third. Paul is feeling upbeat at 40-15, but Djokovic’s punishing return, a clean winner, reminds him of the task at hand.

Novak Djokovic vs Tommy Paul - LIVE: Latest updates from ... (The Independent)

Follow live updates and scores from the Australian Open as Novak Djokovic faces Tommy Paul for a place in the final, after Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Karen ...

Paul gets a look at break point but Djokovic quickly closes the door. The Serbian is a game away from a 10th Australian Open final. Long rallies and you could feel the heavy legs in the first set but I was fortunate to hold my nerves. Tsitsipas has been in excellent form in Melbourne and was defeated from two sets up in his only other grand slam final appearance, which came against Djokovic at the French Open in 2021. The nine-time champion overcame a wobble midway through the opening set to win 7-5 6-1 6-2 and set up a final against the third seed [Stefanos Tsitsipas](/topic/stefanos-tsitsipas). Djokovic is yet to comment on the incident, which followed his straight-sets victory over Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic sees off Paul to set up Tsitsipas final (BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic dominates another opponent as he beats Tommy Paul to set up an Australian Open final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The towering youngster announced his arrival there with a famous 2019 win over defending champion Roger Federer in the fourth round, only for a captivating run to be ended when he was crushed by Rafael Nadal in his first semi-final appearance. Djokovic celebrated by cocking his ear to the crowd and, with a steely focus back, broke twice in each of the next two sets to secure victory after two hour and 20 minutes. At a tournament with a hard-court surface on which he thrives, and in a city where he is warmly backed by its large Greek population, Tsitsipas has long appeared destined for success at the Australian Open. Tsitsipas lost to Djokovic in the 2021 French Open final and now has the opportunity to avenge that defeat in his first appearance in the Australian Open showpiece. Serving for the set, Djokovic allowed his progress to be derailed by a row with umpire Damien Dumusois over the French official starting the 25-second shot clock while he was still using his towel. Another tight forehand saw a third chance disappear in what proved to be the final game, before Tsitsipas regained his composure to convert his fourth when Khachanov batted long a first serve.

Dominant Novak Djokovic storms past Tommy Paul to reach 10th ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Record-holder Novak Djokovic will meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's Australian Open final as the Serb seeks to maintain his 100 per cent record in the ...

Tsitsipas could become the first player to beat Djokovic in an Australian Open final, though the world No. Open](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/us-open-tennis) last year due to vaccination policy. [controversy surrounding his father, Srdjan](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-dad-vladimir-putin-29054031), to deliver an almost flawless display in the Melbourne heat. 5's record in the competition and his current levels of play put him firmly in the driver's seat. "So it's a Grand Slam final, I'm fighting for the No. "These are the moments that I've been working hard for, to be able to play finals like this, finals that have bigger meaning than just a final," he told reporters. Sunday's decider holds extra significance for Tsitsipas, too, after he beat Karen Khachanov 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 to put himself within reach of the global summit. The veteran then issued a feisty challenge to another of his emerging rivals as he addressed Tsitsipas directly: "Stefanos, see you in two days." The 24-year-old went two sets up on that occasion before succumbing to Djokovic, who reached all four Grand Slam finals that year. Paul's plight continued when he lost his opening serve for the third time in as many sets, struggling to keep up with Djokovic's slick standards across the court. That's after he beat Tommy Paul 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to make it 14 sets won in a row at the Australian Open. He then admitted even his "vivid imagination" wouldn't have thought he'd compete for 10 Australian Opens when he clinched his maiden major in Melbourne back in 2008.

Tommy Paul hails 'great two weeks' after run to Australian Open ... (Daily Mail)

American Tommy Paul's run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open will take him into the world's top 20 for the first time but the 25-year-old does not ...

I don't want to just lose in semi-finals. 'I want to keep moving up the rankings. 'Obviously I have a lot of matches to win this year. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder,' Paul told reporters. I feel like the way I started year is the right path to do it. Obviously got to carry it throughout the whole season.

Novak Djokovic crushes Tommy Paul to book Stefanos Tsitsipas ... (Eurosport.co.uk)

Novak Djokovic breezed into a 10th Australian Open final with a straight sets demolition of American Tommy Paul in Melbourne.

Leading 5-1 and serving for the set, nobody saw what happened next coming. I held my nerves at the end of the first set; that was a key moment where I started swinging through the ball more." Another Nole hold made it 4-0, but Paul eventually got on the board, holding a couple of games as the set stayed on serve for Djokovic to stroll into the final with a love hold to see out another straight-sets victory. “I won against Stefanos in Paris, so my recollections are very positive! Djokovic won only two of 12 points after his argument with the umpire, but eventually managed to get back on track with a hold, and then broke at the opportune moment to take the set 7-5, cupping his ear to a raucous crowd after edging a helter-skelter set in 59 minutes. He managed to do so by finally getting on the board, but Djokovic pounced on his first set point to serve out with a commanding 6-1 scoreline in 36 minutes. "I know what’s expected of me. [will face Stefanos Tsitsipas](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/australian-open/2023/stefanos-tsitsipas-v-karen-khachanov-live-stream-and-scores-from-australian-open-semi-final_sto9354343/story.shtml)in Sunday’s showpiece event after coming through 7-5 6-1 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena. I was two sets to love down, and that was the first time I came from behind like that in a Grand Slam final, so it was a really physical, mental and emotional battle," Djokovic said. He added: "My level is great, it’s perfect. It’s 110 percent. Paul had moments at the start of the second set but failed to capitalise and once the unusually high Djokovic error count dropped, the result looked a formality.