Novak Djokovic is back into yet another Australian Open semifinal, where he will take on Jannik Sinner.
Sinner was backed for Australian Open success at the very start of the Grand Slam, with the Italian having won the last two titles.
But 10-time champion Djokovic now stands in his way of a third successive title at the hard-court tournament in Melbourne.
Djokovic and Sinner have met 10 times on the ATP Tour heading into their clash at the Australian Open, with the Italian boasting six wins.
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Lindsay Davenport wants Novak Djokovic to control the baseline points more vs Jannik Sinner
Sinner has notably won their last five matches, with former WTA number one Lindsay Davenport now explaining how Djokovic can upset his rival in Melbourne.
Davenport commented on Tennis Channel: “Oh man, it’s just kind of wild the last five or six days for Novak.
“Walkover in the round before, then down two sets to love then, oh by the way now you’re in the semi playing Sinner.
“So you’ve got to figure he’s going to get to work on being able to control the baseline points more. That’s what we’re used to seeing from Novak.
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“And when you see someone like [Lorenzo] Musetti able to really do that, I think if you’re Novak you’ve got to start getting back out there and trying to do what you do best.
“Obviously, he’s a little bit older. Interesting that he won’t be going into this semifinal match, I can’t imagine his confidence is sky high.
“Even though he’s in a semi again, and that was probably the goal. Give myself a chance to play Sinner or Alcaraz in that round. He’s got to muster up some belief and get back to playing his style of tennis if he can.”
Martina Navratilova tells Lorenzo Musetti his next steps after Australian Open withdrawal
Djokovic has experienced a remarkable Australian Open so far, starting with three successive straight-sets wins.
He beat Pedro Martinez, Francesco Maestrelli and Botic van de Zandschulp, but was handed a fourth round walkover when Jakub Mensik withdrew from the Australian Open.
And in the quarterfinals, Musetti retired hurt against Djokovic when he was leading the match by two sets.
Suggesting his next steps, tennis legend Martina Navratilova said: “Well first he needs to take care of his body. Because this kind of injury can become chronic very easily.
“So, good that he defaulted when he did, because it was only going to get worse, he was not going to win the match. Take care of his body.
“Emotionally it’s hard, but you know, that’s tennis, there’s nothing you can do, there’s nothing he could have done differently leading into it.
“So just recover and then get on with it, and know that you played this well to get that far so he can take an extra step next time.”
It would have indeed been a very emotional moment and tough decision for Musetti, but he definitely made the right call.
He was cruising against Djokovic, having historically really struggled in that match-up, but his body will thank him for it in the long-term.
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