Novak Djokovic sets up final showdown with Rafael Nadal
Finally.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2019
The rematch of the longest Grand Slam final in tennis history is here.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/7VtKTkxGD6
Novak Djokovic storms into the final!
Djokovic: It was definitely the best match I ever had on this court. Everything worked according to my plan and I played my best tonight. Lucas had a good tournament and he can definitely be a top-10 player. This was his first semi-final and there will be more to come in the future.
On his comeback from injury: It was highly unlikely 12 months ago that I would be here today. I always had plenty of belief in myself and self-belief is something that always prevails.
On playing the replay of his epic 2012 final against Nadal: That would be a match I'd buy a ticket for. We have different rules this year with the super tiebreak so it won't go that long.
Djokovic vs Pouille 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. Game, set and match, Novak Djokovic.
Pouille wins the first point with a powerful crosscourt forehand winner only to overcook it on the next point. He then volleys long and nets a forehand to give Djokovic two matchpoints. He saves one after forcing Djokovic to send his forehand wide. He nets his backhand to send Djokovic to a final showdown against Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic vs Pouille 6-0, 6-2, *3-1
Pouille starts his service game with a serve and volley. Djokovic responds with a backhand winner. At 30-30, Pouille smacks in a powerful backhand winner. Djokovic gets to deuce with a deep backhand which Pouille can't return. Djokovic gets a breakpoint and converts it.
Preview: There's only one main draw singles match on Day 12. World No 1 ranked Novak Djokovic's semi-final against No 28 Lucas Pouille. Six-time champion Djokovic wants the record for most Australian Open men's singles titles to himself — he shares the mark with Roger Federer and Roy Emerson.
In his favour at the pointy end of this tournament, he's never lost a semi-final at Melbourne Park. Each time he has won quarter-final here, he has gone on to win the title. He won his first major at the 2008 Australian Open, then won three straight Australian titles from 2011-13 and another pair in 2015-16.
The 14-time major winner was hampered by injuries for 18 months before returning to peak form in 2018 to pick up the titles at Wimbledon and the US Open. To say he's a hot favourite against Pouille is an understatement.
Djokovic has history when it comes to streaks: He already has won all four majors in succession, although not quite the Grand Slam — he held all four major titles from 2015 Wimbledon to the 2016 French Open.
Pouille, though, appears to be capable of anything since he hired Amelie Mauresmo as coach two months ago. He hadn't won a match in his five previous trips to Melbourne Park. Now he's on a five-match winning roll at the Australian Open, surpassing his previous best run at a major (consecutive quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2016) with his victory over Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic got a relatively easy run in the last eight when Kei Nishikori retired with injury while trailing 6-1, 4-1. The 31-year-old Serb noted his decade-long run of glory in Australia. "I've had plenty of success here. That has helped to kick-start the season in a great fashion ... served as a great confidence boost."
The winner will play 17-time major winner Rafael Nadal, who beat 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Thursday night.
With inputs from AP
Here's a look at why Djokovic was not at the tournament in 2022, why he is back in 2023, and whether anyone can prevent him from leaving town with the trophy
Novak Djokovic has dropped just one set in the first four rounds, despite the pain and physical duress.
Novak Djokovic's quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title was far from smooth at the start, plagued by a hamstring strain suffered en route to the title at Adelaide this month.
