Ernest Osogbue
24 time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, saved 16 out of the 18 break points he faced, to defeat Jannik Sinner in the semifinal of the Australian Open on Saturday, to set up a mouth watering final against world number one tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain. This is after both of them came through grueling five set matches in the semifinals.
In the first semifinal, Alcaraz jumped off to a two sets to love lead against German opponent, Alexander Zverev. Everyone thought it would be a straight forward affair, only for Alcaraz to take medical time out as he started cramping. This gave Zverev the perfect opportunity to level the match two sets apiece, with a deciding fifth set on the cards. Zverev took the lead, after breaking Alcaraz in the 5th game, and was serving for the match at 5/4, when he was broken back by Alcaraz in 10th game. Alcaraz who was still suffering from the cramps, took matters into his own hands by winning the 5th set, to advance 6/4, 7/6 (7-5), 6/7 (4-7), 6/7 (4-7), 7/5.
The second semifinal had 10 time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic taking on two time defending champion Jannik Sinner, who easily took the first set. Djokovic fought back to take the second set, with Sinner, keeping his nose in front by winning the third set. Djokovic then had to dig deep to even the match two sets all, by winning the fourth set. It was then a matter of who had the physical ability to carry on, as Djokovic once again defied the odds, to beat a man 14 years his junior, 3/6, 6/3, 4/6, 6/4, 6/4, to advance to the final.
Djokovic thus becomes the 2nd oldest man to reach a grand slam final after Ken Roswell of Australia. The men’s championship match comes up on Sunday, after the women’s final which comes up on Saturday.
In the women’s final, world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, will have her hands full when she faces world number five Elena Rybakina. Rybakina famously despatched Sabalenka in their last meeting at WTA tour finals in Riyadh last November, smashing her 7-love in the second set tiebreaker to win in two straight sets. It remains to be seen if Sabalenka is up for revenge on one of her greatest rivals.
