Australian Open: Djokovic vs Paul Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Novak Djokovic takes on Tommy Paul in the semifinal on Friday, January 27, 2023.

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit for an unprecedented 10th Australian Open title continues as he stands just two wins away from accomplishing that feat. Could the stumble when he faces American rising star Tommy Paul?

Novak Djokovic swatted aside fifth seed Andrey Rublev to reach his 44th Grand Slam semifinal. Only Roger Federer has more with 46. Djokovic’s dominance at the Australian Open continued as he dropped only seven games against the Russian power hitter. He broke Rublev five times in the match, fired 14 aces, and saved all five break points he faced on his serve. Thankfully for him, he did not have any hamstring concerns for the second match in a row. He will take on the fast-improving Tommy Paul in the last four.

Tommy Paul, meanwhile, came out on top of the all-American quarterfinal against the surprise package of the Australian Open in Ben Shelton. The 20-year-old Shelton was almost unbreakable throughout his first Grand Slam tournament outside US soil, but his first elite opponent Paul put his serve under constant pressure. Shelton dropped his serve three times which is more than his last three matches combined. And that proved to be the final straw as 25-year-old Paul won in four sets.

Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul have not played each other on the ATP Tour. In fact, the pair are not fond of each other, having only occasionally practiced. But you have to feel this is the biggest test in men’s tennis right now. Playing an in-form Djokovic at the Australian Open, where he has never faltered at this stage in his lifetime. We just cannot fathom an upset of any kind. Djokovic should roll into his 10th final.