ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the semifinals with Daniil Medvedev at the Adelaide International.
The joint ATP-WTA event is a warm-up for this year’s Australian Open, which number one Djokovic missed last year after being kicked out of the country for failing to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
“At first he was a good player. He was dictating,” said the 35-year-old Serbian Djokovic after going 8-0 against his Canadian opponent. “(Then) I started to find my function and my mindset on the field.”
The 21-time Grand Slam winner, who is preparing for his 10th Australian Open, will face third-ranked Medvedev on Saturday.
“I don’t think there will be too many short points tomorrow unless we both serve well,” Djokovic said. “Usually when you play Daniil, you have to be ready to go the distance physically, mentally, game-wise.
Medvedev, who was a finalist to Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open last year, beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.
“It’s never easy to play against your countryman,” Medvedev said. “I’m happy that I was able to really raise my level, especially at the end of two sets and I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals.”
Medvedev won the US Open in 2021, but lost twice in the finals in Australia, and in 2021 against Djokovic.
“I played well last year and I’m playing well now,” Medvedev said. “Honestly, that’s all that matters. To win a Slam or be in the final, you have to be at your best in seven matches.
“I’ve only been able to do it once and I was very close last year,” he added. “That’s what I’m trying to do again in a few weeks in Melbourne.”
In Friday’s other quarterfinals, American Sebastian Korda beat sixth seed Yannick Sinner 7-5, 6-1, while Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka beat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. Korda will face Nishioka in the semifinals.
Junior qualifier Linda Noskova also beat two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. The 18-year-old Czech defeated Azarenka 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(6) in a quarterfinal that lasted nearly three hours.
Noskova, who defeated third-rounder Darya Kasatkina in the first round, made it her sixth consecutive WTA match win streak.
World No. 5 Arina Sabalenka defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 7-5 to become the first woman to reach the semifinals.
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