After an unexpected loss to Jeong Hyeon (Korea) in the fourth round (R16) of 2018, Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open singles record reached 26 consecutive victories. It can be said that it is a flaw that he could not even participate because he did not receive the Corona 19 vaccine last year, but looking at the record alone, it seems that no one will be able to stop Djokovic’s Australian Open momentum. Perhaps Djokovic should be more concerned about his currently bandaged left hamstring than his opponent, given the remainder of the tournament.
Novak Djokovic (Serbia), ranked 5th in the world men’s tennis singles ranking, ranked 6th in the men’s singles quarterfinal tournament at the 2023 Australian Open tennis tournament held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park at 5:45 pm on the 25th (Wednesday) our time, Andrei Ruble He easily defeated Lev (Russia) 3-0 (6-1, 6-2, 6-4) in 2 hours and 3 minutes and advanced to the semifinals to meet American Tommy Paul (35th).
Djokovic’s net luck… Will his hamstring hold up?
Novak Djokovic, who unilaterally won the first set by giving up only one game, did not miss the second set either. In the fifth game where Rublev served, it was a crucial turning point when he had three break point opportunities at 0:40. In the end, the game point was recorded when Rublev’s backhand stroke was caught in the net.
And in the eighth game of the second set, Rublev relentlessly followed Djokovic’s serve game to deuce, but Djokovic finished it with a serve point at the final climax. In the third set that followed, a situation emerged where the net placed between the two players could be said to have given Djokovic a strange gift twice.
Rublev had the right to serve in the first game of the third set, but luck came when Djokovic’s forehand cross hit the top of the net and landed on the left line. Relatively as if this moment was more than bad luck for Rublev, a stroke mistake came out and two break point opportunities also belonged to Djokovic. In the end, the game point went to Djokovic as Rublev’s forehand volley, which looked relatively easy, fell long.
Djokovic’s fortunes from the net matched wonderfully as he took his sixth game. Djokovic’s forehand down the line hit the top of the net and narrowly crossed over and fell. At this level, it was a day when Rublev could do nothing. 안전놀이터
Andrei Rublev has made it to the quarterfinals seven times in major tournaments, and it seemed no coincidence that he had never surpassed that hurdle and reached the quarterfinals. To him, the net must have been more irritating than Djokovic’s deft stroke technique.
On the other hand, Djokovic is cruising without giving up a single set until he reached the semifinals, except for the second set to Enzo Cuaco (France) in the second round of this tournament with a tie-break 5-7. But I’m worried about the muscle on the back of his left thigh that runs with his bandage on. Novak Djokovic stretched his left leg on the bench right before the start of the third set, and had to rotate his ankle frequently to prevent that muscle from rising even when standing on the court baseline.
The key is how well he can recover from his hamstring injury until the quarterfinals where he meets American Tommy Paul, who has excellent court covering skills like Djokovic.