The men’s semi-finals make up the singles action at the Australian Open on Friday when both matches take place across the two sessions of play on the Rod Laver Arena out in Melbourne as we find out who will compete for the title.
Three of the top four players in the world have made it through to the semi-finals and the other player is very much one of the best in the game as well so we should be in for a belting day of tennis out in Melbourne.
Day Session
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner
The first semi-final of the tournament is a repeat of the last match of the 2023 season as the defending champion Novak Djokovic takes on Jannik Sinner after the two met to conclude the ATP World Tour Finals back in November.
Sinner actually won their first meeting in that tournament but then lost to Djokovic in the final of it, however he has beaten the Serbian in the Davis Cup as well so he has actually won two of their last three meetings and he comes in here having not dropped a single set in Melbourne despite facing challenges against Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev. He is hitting the ball brilliantly well and playing the big moments better but this is a step up on what has gone before. Djokovic dropped sets in three of his five matches in this tournament but I do think he has played better the longer it has gone on and he usually peaks at the back end of a Grand Slam which has to be a problem for Sinner. I think Sinner will be competitive here but beating Djokovic over three out of five sets is so tough, especially in this stadium. I think Sinner comes up short here but I do think he’ll trouble Djokovic at times and often enough for over 39.5 games to land. I don’t expect this to be settled in straight sets and with half of the eight sets they have played since the start of the ATP World Tour Finals having finished 75 or 76 four sets should be enough to get us up to the 40 games mark. I like the over here.
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Night Session
Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev
The second semi-final of the tournament sees two powerful players from the back of the court battling it out as the former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev takes on a man still looking for his first Grand Slam in Alexander Zverev.
Both these men had big wins in the quarter final. Medvedev outlasted Hubert Hurkacz in an absolute epic but you wonder if that will have left a lasting effect on him. Zverev got rid of the Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight in a match he should have won in straight sets but let a big lead go in the third set and had to settle for winning in four sets. I was so impressed with his aggression in that match and if he carries the game to Medvedev in the same way here then I think his power could see him have some joy. Medvedev will make Zverev play a lot more and the Russian will go into the match knowing that he won five of their six meetings in 2023, although a number of them were quite close. Medvedev doesn’t really appear in fine form in this tournament though. He was taken to a decider in one of the earlier rounds by Emil Ruusuvuori and again in the last round and even Nuno Borges took a set from him so I don’t think all is well in the Medvedev game. Zverev has also gone the distance twice in the tournament but fitness has never been an issue for him. The eye test tells me Zverev looks in better touch here and his extra power in slower conditions could be the difference maker.
Tips
Back N.Djokovic vs J.Sinner – Over 39.5 games for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
Back A.Zverev to beat D.Medvedev for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with William Hill
Back him here:
