Novak Djokovic cracked whip to hammer Tommy Paul in straight sets to storm into Australian Open final on Friday (January 27). Djokovic flattened the surprise package American 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to set up the summit clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas in pursuit of record 22nd Grand Slam.
The 35-year-old Djokovic, who was a massive favorite entering his match with the 25-year-old Paul, had a pretty easy time so far on the court in his return to Melbourne after missing last year's event due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic defeated Roberto Carballes Baena, Enzo Couacaud, No. 27 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 22 Alex de Minaur, No. 5 Andrey Rublev and Paul, losing only one set along the way.
But Paul wasn't a total pushover in this match, especially early, and Djokovic seemed to be hobbled for a big part of it. Paul trailed 1-5 in the first set but won four straight games to tie it 5-5 — seemingly sparked by a discussion between Djokovic and the chair umpire over the serve clock — before eventually losing the set 7-5. Djokovic was able to get his second wind and cruise in the final two sets.
"I'm really thankful that I have enough gas in my legs to be able to play at this level," Djokovic said after the match. "It's a great battle, first of all with yourself and then your opponent. You don't have much time between points, so those long rallies you can really feel them.
"We both had happy legs in the first set. I was really fortunate to hold my nerves near the end of the first set. ... I'm just really please to get through to another final."
Djokovic advanced to his 10th Australian Open final exactly 15 years to the day in which he won his first Australian Open and Grand Slam title in 2008 over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
