Novak Djokovic feels like he is sending a 'message' to rivals with dominant wins at Australian Open
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 25/01/2023 at 12:55 GMT
Novak Djokovic looks to have hit top gear at the 2023 Australian Open. The nine-time champion has crushed Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev in his last two matches to make the semi-finals. Djokovic said he has been sending a "message" with his play in the "important moments" and also spoke about how always "dreamed big" as he looks to win a 22nd Grand Slam title.
Djokovic dominates to roar through against Rublev - Australian Open highlights
Novak Djokovic says he feels like he has been sending a "message" to his rivals with his dominant displays in his last two matches at the Australian Open.
The nine-time champion in Melbourne followed up his demolition of Alex de Minair with an impressive win over fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic broke Rublev five times and saved all five break points he faced on his own serve.
In the second set Djokovic roared in celebration as he fired a winner into the corner to save a second break point.
“The last two matches I think I’ve been really strong in the important moments,” he told Eurosport.
“And this is kind of a message that you want to send out there to all your opponents. I know everyone is watching my matches, I’m watching everyone else’s matches.
“Now it’s down to the last four guys, and I’m looking forward to it.”
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/01/25/3535073-72048633-2560-1440.jpg)
'Trust me, I get tight, everyone does' - Djokovic tells Eurosport after quarter-final victory
Djokovic faces unseeded American Tommy Paul in the semi-finals as he continues his quest for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title.
His first-ever major win came at the Australian Open in 2008 when he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.
Asked whether he could have imagined then that he would go on to have such success in his career, Djokovic said: “I always dreamed big, and I dare to dream big, which is kind of the way I’ve been brought up.
“I’m really thankful for my parents and the people who are really close in my life when I was very young to give me the freedom and space to really express myself on the tennis court and be really creative and to dream, and to have a really wild imagination, so that I could reach the top of one of the most important global sports that we have in the world.
“I started dreaming that I could be No. 1 when I was seven, from a small country, a war-torn country at that point. Not many people were really believing that could happen.
“But I always had that kind of mindset and that kind of mentality, with clear intentions got me to where I am. Of course sometimes I have to pinch myself with everything that I have achieved, I am very grateful for that.
“But I don’t have much time or energy to really kind of go through the entire career right now and see and analyse what I’ve done, what I have achieved, because I feel I still have things in my legs to look forward to it and to achieve.”
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/01/25/3535048-72048133-2560-1440.jpg)
'He deserves it!' - Touching moment Djokovic asks fans to applaud Federer
Reflecting on his display against Rublev, Djokovic added: “First two sets, really strong on my side.
“I feel like maybe the result doesn’t say the real picture or truth about the match-up on the court. There were some really close games, he had some break points, and I managed to find some really big serves, some good play.
“I held my breaks when I broke his serve very well, and in the next few games after that, I was really solid, and just made him play.
“I guess I was hitting my spots well when it mattered the most, especially with the serves. So, just a great performance again.”
The men’s semi-finals take place on Friday. The other men's semi-final sees third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas meet 18th seed Karen Khachanov.
- - -
Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement