Novak Djokovic aces his way to the 2021 Australian Open final

Novak Djokovic (Carine06, Wikimedia Commons)

When you think of Novak Djokovic, you don’t always think of his outstanding serve. You think of him as one of tennis’s best returners, and having one of tennis’s best overall games on the court.

However, one of the reasons why Djokovic has found himself in the 2021 Australian Open final against either Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece or Daniil Medvedev of Russia, has been because of his outstanding serve over the last two weeks. On Thursday, Djokovic reached 100 aces when he defeated Aslan Karatsev of Russia, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. In the match, Djokovic had 17 aces, compared to six for Karatsev.

Through his six matches to date, Djokovic had nine aces in his 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 first-round win over Jeremy Chardy of France; 26 aces in his 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 second-round win over Frances Tiafoe of the United States; 15 aces in his 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 third-round win over Taylor Fritz of the United States; 10 aces in his 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round win over Milos Raonic of Canada; and 23 aces in his 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 quarterfinal win over Alexander Zverev of Germany.

Clearly, Djokovic’s serve has got better while working with coach Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia. Ivanisevic has 1397 career aces at Wimbledon, second only all-time to Roger Federer.

In women’s action, the final is now set. Naomi Osaka of Japan will play Jennifer Brady of the United States. Osaka, the third seed, defeated the 10th seed, Serena Williams of the United States, 6-3, 6-4. Brady, the 22nd seed, defeated Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, for her first career grand slam final appearance. Osaka is looking for her fourth career grand slam title after winning the U.S. Open in 2018, and in 2020, and the Australian Open in 2019.

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