Defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will take on a familiar opponent Taylor Fritz for a spot in the semifinals. Tuesday’s winner will go up against either Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev.
Novak Djokovic is not likely to be quaking in his boots at the prospect of playing quarterfinal opponent Taylor Fritz. The world No. 1 has faced Fritz eight times since they first met in 2019 and the American has not yet managed to secure a win. Not that Fritz hasn’t gotten close a few times. He even took an admittedly ailing Djokovic to five sets at the 2021 Australian Open but couldn’t quite get over the finish line.
Djokovic was nursing a sore wrist during the first week of this event. He even dropped a set each in his first two rounds, but all of that is a distant memory now. He absolutely spanked Adrian Mannarino in the round of 16, dishing out a pair of bagels en route to a straight-set win. Message set? Watch out, Fritz.
Fritz did have a nice win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in his fourth-round match, but Tsitsipas had been a little off all week–so it’s difficult to draw any kind of conclusions about whether that might mean an opportunity for the underdog to get his first win over the Serb.
The undeniable facts are that Djokovic is playing at his best tournament against an opponent who has never beaten him, and a best-of-five format is unlikely to be the place that Fritz makes his breakthrough.
Cheryl pick: Djokovic in 3
Ricky pick: Djokovic in 3
WWW?
Everyone wants to see a Djoko-Sinner classic
Regardless of the result, Fritz wins the girlfriend contest. 300 odd million and that’s the best you can do. Wow.
Even Cheryl gives her a run for her money.
If Fritz remembers that he’s 27 and Djokovic an old man in tennis years at 37, he is a chance. If it was me I’d just focus on playing him into the ground.
I wouldn’t worry if the rallies go for 50 shots each, the longer the better because I know I would have the edge. I’d just have faith in that edge to deliver the outcome.
Fritz is in the form of his life right now; he’s playing lights out tennis.
Nah, I c absolutely no one left on the tour who can beat Novak, not even Alcaraz nor Sinner! I find Alcaraz is not really playing his best and Sinner has a history of not being able to cross finish line……..he may serve for the match and then implode!
Zverev is playing well but his dfs r a nuisance and his focus is not where it should be at this point in the tournament. Hurkatz? His movement will just get exploited and serves can only get u so far!
Oh, and I forget medvedev: he may be able to get a set this time l!
I think you forgot Hurkacz
If Fritz plays the way he did against Tsitsipas, he has a real chance in the match, and regardless of the result, it could mark the end of Djokovic’s AO.
Fritz, Sinner, and Alcaraz are probably too tough for 37-year-old Djokovic, given the form these players are in and their stage of development.
Fritz is no Mannerino or Etcheverry.
Gill Gross backing Fritz, right for once.
Gill Gross backed Novak to win in straights!!!
why is this surprising?
It’s not!! Al seemed to be suggesting Gill had backed Fritz which would be surprising. Posts all got muddled…
ah I see now
I meant back hom to get this far beating Tsisti. He said he gets a lot of crap for always backing him
Ok I see. Posts got muddled up. If he had backed him to beat Novak that would have been very surprising….!
Yeah , it might not be Djokovics trophy .At 37, he could lose to either Fritz or Sinner
I dunno, Novak is finding that place where he always one more gear. Somehow.
It’s a day time match, it’s going to be hot in Melbourne, advantage Fritz.
Let’s see.
A colossal heat wave in Cincy and he did ok against Carlos
Novak Djokovic cops another Australian Open scheduling blow
https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-cops-another-australian-open-scheduling-blow/news-story/78c1f39f4bd4fbc2b1e4591de0ab0d17
Fritz pretty great vs Tpas….he can get one set…I hope!!!
Listen, this discussion is akin to the one where we keep having when FO comes along……….will Rafa win it this year……….see how well this one is playing, this one hasn’t even dropped a set, oh Rafa may have an injury or the weather will not favour him, blah, blah, blah!!!!………..and what always ultimately happens?!!
They might as well give Novak the trophy already. Sigh!! The only thing I’m curious about is who will have the unworthy honour of holding the plate on Sunday!! 🤣 Just like at FO!! 😩
Fritz in 5
ouch
Gosh, how many dueces does Fritz need to even win opening game?!!!! Sigh!!!