Australian Open: Novak Djokovic hopes to defend dynasty in opposition to Daniil Medvedev

A really completely different Australian Open involves a well-known finish on Sunday as Novak Djokovic seems to thwart one other problem to his Melbourne Park dynasty from the newest Grand Slam aspirant in Daniil Medvedev.
The event has charted a rocky path by way of the COVID-19 pandemic and a snap five-day lockdown because of a neighborhood outbreak robbed it of a lot of its vitality.
But a comforting sense of normality will pervade Rod Laver Arena when a wholesome crowd recordsdata in for a closing that might mark a shift within the tennis panorama.
Much just like the event, world primary and defending champion Djokovic has been compelled into disaster administration at instances throughout his marketing campaign.
Pilloried within the leadup for petitioning organisers to ease strict quarantine protocols for gamers, the Serb struggled with an stomach pressure sustained within the third spherical.
His skill to handle the damage was key in bringing him inside one match of a record-extending ninth Australian Open crown however he mentioned he was combating match after beating Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev within the semi-finals.
Victory over fourth seed Medvedev would imply an 18th Grand Slam title for Djokovic, pulling him inside two of the report 20 shared by “Big Three” rivals Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
While the 33-year-old Djokovic has by no means misplaced a closing at Melbourne Park, his reign has hardly ever regarded so susceptible.
He suffered an enormous scare in opposition to Dominic Thiem within the five-set decider final 12 months, and Medvedev is presumably the participant he would least prefer to face.
Daniil Medvedev was the runner-up to Nadal on the 2019 US Open. (File Photo)
The rangy Russian has been a machine since November, clinching the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the team-based ATP Cup in a 20-match profitable streak that has included 12 straight victories over top-10 opponents.
Djokovic was amongst Medvedev’s victims on the ATP Finals however when the Serb strolls onto his favorite centre courtroom on Sunday, the form-book is unlikely to determine.
With the exception of Thiem’s U.S. Open win final 12 months the place Djokovic was disqualified for hitting a tennis ball right into a line choose, the “Big Three” have gained all of the Slams since 2017.
“There has been a lot of talk about the new generations coming and taking over from the three of us but realistically that isn’t happening still,” Djokovic advised Eurosport.
“I’m not going to stand here and hand it over to them. I am going to make them work their arse off for it.”
Contesting his second Grand Slam closing however first in Australia, Medvedev is hungry for achievement after being edged by Nadal in a traditional five-set decider on the 2019 U.S. Open.
Djokovic would possibly see one thing of himself within the assured 25-year-old, who boasts equally elite courtroom protection, defence, and shot-making.
Medvedev has added psychological power to his arsenal, which proved invaluable in his semi-final in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas as he closed out a tense third set after briefly wobbling within the face of a hostile crowd.
He has additionally proven willingness to bask in a little bit of niggle, saying the stress is all on Djokovic as he chases the 20-slam report.
Though Medvedev has gained three of their final 4 matches, he has solely met Djokovic as soon as at a Grand Slam, shedding in 4 units within the fourth spherical of the 2019 Australian Open.