Djokovic injury scare, beats Medvedev
Novak Djokovic #NovakDjokovic
Novak Djokovic has put his Australian Open rivals on notice – and the tournament’s organisers on edge – after his clinical Adelaide International semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev was punctuated by a leg injury.
Djokovic looked on-song against one of Melbourne Park’s other chief contenders, dominating in a 6-3 6-4 win.
But as is sometimes the case with the 21-time grand slam champion, there was a dollop of drama thrown in for good measure.
In the seventh game of the first set, the usually rubbery former world No.1 caught his left foot when sliding for a ball and immediately began stretching out his hamstring.
It didn’t stop him from fending off a break point and ripping out a superb forehand down-the-line winner as he consolidated the break of serve he’d already logged.
It did, however, result in a medical time-out.
“Thankfully, it was nothing too serious,” said Djokovic afterwards, explaining he went off court to take some anti-inflammatories.
“If it was, I wouldn’t have been able to continue.
“Hopefully, tomorrow it will be all fine.”
While looking a little proppy on occasion when he returned, Djokovic had the first set in the bag two games later, slamming down an ace to ice what had been an outstanding start to the match.
His form only continued in the second set, Djokovic claiming a break in the seventh game.
The lanky Russian did his best to break back – and had two opportunities the next game, but Djokovic continued to find a way on the biggest points.
His ability to pull out winners when needed had Medvedev seemingly questioning Djokovic’s apparent injury, the 2021 US Open winner appearing at one stage to mock the Serb by clutching his own hamstring.
Djokovic will now play Sebastian Korda in the final.
The win was Djokovic’s 33rd in a row in Australia since his shock 2018 loss to Hyeon Chung in the Melbourne Park quarter-final that year.
With Spanish world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz pulling out of the Australian summer because of injury and countryman and defending champion Rafael Nadal struggling for form, Djokovic is now a short-priced favourite to win his 10th Melbourne Park title.
The Djokovic camp, fans and Open organisers will be hoping injury issues don’t put paid to that.