Can anyone beat the sensational Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open?

Again for the tenth time the sensational Novak Djokovic arrives at the final of the Australian Open. This time he faces the winner of the Greek Russian semi-final, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat the Russian Karen Khachanov in four sets.

Who did Djokovic beat to arrive at the AO 2023 Final?

Novak opened R1 with a decisive win over Spaniard, Roberto Carballes Baena, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in just over two hours play, serving 9 aces to Roberto’s 4. When we look at the match statistics, we see Novak was the clear winner. Winning 87% of his 1st serves and 64% of his 2nd serves to Roberto’s 50% and 67% respectively, he out-gunned the Spanish player on every front. It was an emphatic start to Djokovic’s AO 2023!

Round 2, he played Frenchman Enzo Couacaud, again at the Rod Laver Arena, who took hime to 4 sets after Enzo won the second set tie-break 7-5, but sets three and four saw the sensational Serbian strike back with bold wins. Final result was a win for Novak, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0.

The Bulgarian 31 year old, Gregor Dimitrov, was the next casualty who fell after 3 hours and 7 minutes to the Serbian maestro, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. Despite putting 15 aces past Novak to his 11, having faster 1st and 2nd serve averages, by some 7-10 kmh.

Gregor’s fastest serve was 219 kmh compared to Novak’s 205 kmh. Even from the point of winners, Gregor won 53 to Novak’s 28. However, the final result in points won was with Djokovic at 123 -110 giving him the victory.

R4 was to be a home challenge from Alexander De Minaur seeded 22 for the Australian Open. Hoping to gain from home advantage Alex battled with Novak only to lose in three straight sets after 2 hours 6 minutes of play. Result, a win to Djokovic, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. Total points won 91 to Alex’s 59 put Novak into the Quarter Finals.

Djokovic reaches the Australian Open 2023 Quarter Finals

It was now down to the Russian warrior Andrey Rublev, seeded 5, to put an end to Novak’s hopes of winning a tenth Australian Open. However, at this stage Novak was able to ramp up his attack and put 14 aces past Rublev, more than double his opponents tally of 6! Match statistics were a little more balanced between the gladiators, faster serves going to Rublev, but winners going to Novak, 32-26, with the Serb making fewer unforced errors, 21-29. Total points won went to Novak at 105-75 and he dispatched yet another quality opponent on his quest for the “Grand Slam Championship Down Under”. Final result was 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to Djokovic.

Semi Final Win for Novak Djokovic

Tommy Paul, the American unseeded 25 year old, ranked 35 in Singles, was Novak’s last opponent to attempt to derail his arrival at the Finals of AO 2023. Unfortunately for Paul, he could only challenge with the fastest match serve of 217 kmh to Novak’s 203 kmh. On all other statistics, Novak was the clear winner, 31-18, with total points won 100-68!

All eyes are on Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2023. How does he manage the anxiety on a tennis court?

Can Stefanos Tsitsipas be the one to stop Djokovic’s 10th AO Singles Title?

If there is one player left standing with the best chance of stopping Novak, it has to be number three seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, ranked 4 in the Singles, age 24, who has battled his way through the other side of the table, notably the winner of 5 sets against Jannik Sinner of Italy in R4, to arrive as Novak’s adversary in the AO 2023 Final.

Obviously Novak’s former experience of this surface and his record of nine wins of the Grand Slam, favours him as the overall winner, but we cannot discount the Greek’s ability to upset Novak’s current form. All eyes will be on Stefanos on Sunday! We are looking forward to a five set thriller with whoever on the day plays better being the worthy champion “Down Under”!

The 8 men who have beaten Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open

1. Marat Safin – 2005 Round of 128
Lost 6-0 6-2 6-1.

2. Paul Goldstein – 2006 Round of 128
Lost 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-2.

3. Rodger Federer – 2007 Round of 16
Lost in straight sets, 6-2 7-5 6-3.

4. Andy Roddick – 2009 Quarter-Finals
Following his 1st win in 2008 of the Australian Open, in 2009 he lost to Roddick, retiring from heat exhaustion.
Lost 6-7 6-4 6-2 2-1. 

5. Jo Wilfried-Tsonga – 2010 Quarter-Finals
Lost to tenth-ranked Jo Wilfried-Tsonga in a five-set thriller.
Lost 7-6 6-7 1-6 6-3 6-1.

6. Stan Wawrinka – 2014 Quarter-Finals
3 years of AO wins in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was stopped by Stan Wawrinka in the 2014 quarter-finals.
Lost 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7.

7. Dennis Istomin – 2017 Round of 64
Possibly one of the most surprising losses of Djokovic’s whole career, Dennis Istomin shocked the world when he took down the reigning back-to-back champion in the second round of the 2017 Australian Open.
Lost 7-6 5-7 2-6 7-6 6-4.

8. Hyeong Chung – 2018 Round of 18
The last man to beat Djokovic in Australia, Hyeong Chung did the unthinkable in 2018, when he took down the world number one in straight sets, 7-6 7-5 7-6.
This was the last match that Djokovic would lose in Australia in his career thus far. He went on to win three more titles, making it nine total, the most of any player.

In 2023, Djokovic is back in Australia chasing number 10. Can his win streak continue? Or will another member join this exclusive club?

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