Key events
Tumaini Carayol’s work in Melbourne across the past few weeks has been superb and his scene setter for today’s men’s semifinals is no different.
Even before he had undergone medical tests, defined the nature of his physical ailment and planned for his recovery, Novak Djokovic knew what was in store for him in the days after his remarkable quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, which he pulled off despite struggling with left thigh pain.
Preamble
In the moments that matter, when one moment can prove the difference between winning and losing, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have thrived.
Perhaps none in history have shown the ability to rise to the occasion like the Serb, a level of fortitude and belief without peer taking him to heights few could ever dream of. In Sinner’s words, he likes to “dance in the pressure storm”, Melbourne’s Olympic Park seeing this last year when he came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. These are the mountains that await Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton.
Later tonight will see men’s top seed and defending champion Sinner take the court in prime time against Shelton, the American 21st seed seeking to avoid becoming the 20th straight competitor to challenge the Italian at a hard court grand slam only to be dispatched by the increasingly imperious world No 1.
First, though, it will be Zverev looking to do something that precious few have been able to do over the years, especially on Rod Laver Arena, and what he himself has never been able to do in three attempts at a grand slam: deny the Djoker.
And whereas Djokovic has built a legend on his ability to persevere, the biggest stage has not been all too kind to the German second seed across his career, last year’s French Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz a recent example.
Can he overcome these demons? We’re about to find out.
Play: 2.30pm local, 3.30am GMT.
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