Djokovic v Zverev, Sinner v Shelton

How is Novak Djokovic‘s left leg? That’s the question of the day, perhaps the question of the weekend. Djokovic injured his upper left leg in the first set in his amazing win over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday.

Djokovic is 10-1 in the semifinals at the Australian Open and 8-4 against Alexander Zverev including a 3-0 mark in Slams. But the injury looms and even with two days off, how healthy will Djokovic be?

“Now it’s really about recovery,” said Djokovic. “I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically.

“But if I manage somehow to, yeah, be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I’m as motivated as I can be.”

Zverev, seeded second in Melbourne for a first time, will be tough to beat having lost just two sets en route.

Djokovic, though, has had a history of injuries including an ab tear in 2021 and a hamstring tear in 2023, and what happened? He won both titles!

Zverev is trying to reach his third Slam final after blowing a 2-set lead to Daniil Medvedev in this round last year.

In the late semifinal, Jannik Sinner figures to have his way with the brash Ben Shelton. Sinner has won the last four meetings with the American without losing a set.

Shelton says he has a new plan.

“I don’t think I’ll be redlining,” said Shelton. “If anything, I’ve been, in terms of my baseline play, a bit more conservative this tournament, okay with going deep in rallies. Probably have to step that up a little bit in the semifinals.

“I think that I’m figuring out ways to make guys uncomfortable without just playing at my upper limits and slapping.”

Sinner has won his last 19 matches and his last 12 at the Australian Open. And he’s never lost to an American at a Slam.

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