(Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
MEN'S DRAW
If you’ve tuned in to ESPN in the last week and a half between the hours of 9 pm until about sunrise, you may have seen an “AO”. The two letters of course being for the Australian Open, taking place in Melbourne and down to its final few matches.
In the Men’s draw today we saw World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 4 Jannik Sinner both advance to a semi-final matchup against one another. Djokovic brought his win streak in Melbourne to 33, which includes 4 title wins. Coming into the tournament, Sinner was one of the few who were said to have a shot to end Novak’s Australian Open reign. After the dropout of Rafael Nadal before the tournament, it was up to Sinner along with 20 year-old No. 2 ranked Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Ranked Daniil Medvedev. These three have all beaten Djokovic in the past, with Alcaraz and Medvedev both getting the best of him in a Grand Slam final.
Tonight, Medvedev will face No. 9 Hurkacz, bright and early Wednesday morning we will get to see Alcaraz against the very steady No. 6 Alexander Zverev. No matter what happens with these 6 top 10 players remaining, we are in for a treat. Signs are pointing to another Djokovic victory on the hard courts.
I could see another Djokovic-Alcaraz showdown. If it is anything like what we saw in Wimbledon just last year, it will be a gift.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4 sets over Alcaraz to win his 35th straight Australian Open match and secure his 5th title in 6 years.
WOMEN'S DRAW
In the Women’s draw one semi-final matchup is set: World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against No. 4 Coco Gauff. Sabalenka is coming in perfect, having not lost a single set. Gauff, very similarly, is near perfect and has only dropped one set the entire tournament. Gauff, America’s new pride and joy in the world of tennis, looks to win her second Grand Slam after winning the U.S. Open this past summer at the age of 19.
On the top half of the draw it is highlighted by unranked 19 year-old Linda Noskova, who defeated No. 1 ranked Iga Swiatek in the third round. With two 19 year-olds in the final few matches, it is possible to have an intriguing Grand Slam final of two teenagers, which would be great for the sport and inspire the next wave of greats. The favorite is Sabalenka but Gauff-Noskova would be the potential final matchup to look out for.
If you do find yourself in front of the TV at an ungodly time, the Australian Open is for you these next few days.
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