



On January 24, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev will face off in their Australian Open semifinal. Here's my betting prediction for this highly anticipated clash: will the match be a marathon?
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian tennis legend continues his remarkable career at age 37, currently ranked seventh in the world. Djokovic is determined to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, and the Australian Open has historically been his most successful major.
Djokovic reached the quarterfinals with ease, as expected, although players like Machac and Lehecka had the potential to provide stiffer resistance. The key moment came in his last match against Carlos Alcaraz, where the Spaniard, 16 years his junior, was considered a slight favorite. Many doubted Djokovic’s ability to keep up with Alcaraz’s pace, but he proved that age is just a number, winning 4:6, 6:4, 6:3, 6:4.
Alexander Zverev
The German is one of those players who has long been deserving of a Grand Slam title but has yet to claim one. At 27, Zverev is ranked second in the world.
Zverev confidently advanced to the semifinals, defeating three opponents in straight sets. He overcame Ugo Humbert and Tommy Paul in his last two matches in four sets each. Despite averaging serves over 200 km/h, Zverev doesn’t produce an overwhelming number of aces. He combines solid technique with experience, but overcoming the legendary Serbian will be a formidable challenge.
Match Facts
- Djokovic has 7 wins in 8 matches this season.
- Zverev is undefeated this season, winning all 7 of his matches.
- The odds for this match are as follows: Djokovic win (P1) – 1.62, Zverev win (P2) – 2.4.
Head-to-Head
The players have faced each other 12 times, with Djokovic leading 8–4. Notably, the Serbian has won all three of their Grand Slam meetings.
Prediction
Bookmakers slightly favor Djokovic in this matchup, and I agree—he should hold his own physically against his opponent, who is 10 years younger. This match has the potential to be a long battle, so I recommend betting on the total to exceed 39.5 games.