Novak Djokovic vs. Stanislas Wawrinka: Keys to Australian Open Semi-Final
The Australian Open final is edging ever closer. Before that, we've got an interesting semi-final to get through Down Under. And Novak Djokovic's clash with Stanislas Wawrinka is shaping up to be a thriller—but just what keys will decide the outcome?
Overcoming Milos Raonic to reach the semi-finals with a great defence, the world No. 1 put on a great display to set up a repeat of last year's quarter-final—which Wawrinka won on his way to his first-ever Grand Slam.
So, this is a true grudge match.
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It offers Djokovic the perfect chance for revenge after he was denied yet another semi-final appearance back in 2014.
On the other hand, the world No. 4 performed exceptionally to down Kei Nishikori. Using the full space on offer, he made the Japanese star work hard by moving him around the court with some nice strokeplay.
Here, we analyse the main factors that should prove pivotal to the final outcome, starting with Djokovic.
Will the Serb bring his best serve game?
Djokovic will have to produce his best serve game.
While he might be the highest ranked player in the world, this is not going to be easy. And his Boris Becker-inspired serve ought to have a huge impact on just how explosive this match is.
As reported by the official Australian Open website's Dan Imhoff, the 27-year-old was keen to stress just how vastly he's improved in that department in recent weeks:
"It's been 12 months that we've been working together. [Becker's] working closely with Marian [Vajda] and the rest of the team members obviously in improving my game, getting it to the highest possible degree.
Serve was one of the tasks, one of the things that we wanted to improve. I know I can't serve as fast as Milos, but I'm trying to use the angles, the accuracy to align myself to have some free points with that serve. That's what I used well during this 10 days now so far.
"
Already against Raonic he managed to bring a great serve game. As reported by the official Australian Open website, Nole won 89 percent of his first-serve points compared to Raonic's 72 percent. This played a huge role in his win, as it made it difficult for the Canadian to dictate the pace of the match. And he has only dropped serve once all tournament.
This underlines that he's becoming increasingly reliant on his serve.
Lose sight of it against Wawrinka, a player who can return as good as anyone, and it could well be the end of his tournament.
Can Djokovic tame Wawrinka's serve?
So Djoker is crafting his own serve. Dealing with his opponent's is a different issue.
Reflecting on his win over young Raonic, the evidence was there that he could certainly do just that.
Everyone knows the Canadian has a thumping serve with a lot of pace and power, but the four-time Aussie Open champion seemed unfazed by it all with some tremendous return play.
As reported by the Press Association (h/t the Guardian), Djokovic seemed pleased with how well he managed to deal with it: "I returned very well., tried to get as many balls back in play. Some games I had to just let it go and wait for the opportunities and when they are presented obviously try to use them and that's what I've done."
In truth, when he did manage to keep the play alive following his opponent's big serve, there were occasions when it got away from him. Other times, he successfully stopped aces going through with some great reflexes and managed to sneak a foothold in the game.
In the end, that played massively to his advantage, as he drastically impeded Raonic's biggest strength. And if he continues with that tactic against his vanquisher from last year, he might get the important upper-hand.
Will Wawrinka's mentality hold firm?
Never before has the Swiss hotshot faced Djokovic as the defending Grand Slam champion at Melbourne Park.
The pressure is bound to be huge.
In essence, this is uncharted territory for him, and he'll need to maintain his belief if he's going to go through to the final for the second consecutive year.
That's because he's going through a late renaissance, and this new-found sense of self is something he needs to capitalise on now.
Soundbites from the man himself suggest that he is more confident than ever before, something that bodes well for his next game. He's treading the line between assured and cocky, and that's good for his game, particularly in recent years as he's managed to overcome not just Djokovic but Rafael Nadal, too.
In short, there's a clear correlation between his high confidence and his top results.
As revealed by Tom Perrotta of the Wall Street Journal his conviction is unwavering: "I have the Grand Slam trophy. I won the David Cup also. I have the confidence from that. I know I can make it. I trust my game."
If he can stay focused, play the big-serving game he's used to and push hard for the win, we might just see him come out the other side of an enthralling five-setter.
Wawrinka can use versatility to his advantage
Djokovic remains one of the best players of the modern era. And he can switch his style of play up quite easily.
But if he spends a lot of time near the baseline as he did against Raonic, Stan could very well overpower him.
In truth, this is quite an unpredictable contest.
Watching the Swiss No. 2 in action against Nishikori showed us what he can do against top players who attempt to shut down his powerful forehand and clever one-handed backhand. Nishikori approached the net quite often in an effort to earn points, but soon disbanded the idea due to the winners that were being scored against him.
At the end of the day, Wawrinka is not just a battering ram. He doesn't just win points when his opponent stays at the baseline.
He does have that in his locker. But his deft drop shots and accurate strokes down the line are proof that he is more than capable of producing some unpredictable moves.
Conclusion
Regardless of the outcome, this match should be a cracker.
If Wawrinka can push past Djokovic into the final, it will be hard to discount last year's win as a flash in the pan any more.
In truth, this is a chance for him to drive home his credentials.
As for Djokovic, a defeat for him would add further fuel to the notion that tennis' big guns are fading fast and that the "Big Four" is quickly becoming an antiquated force as opposed to a talented reality.
There's a lot on the line. Bring it on.
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