Novak Djokovic will take on Andrey Rublev in the 2023 Paris Masters semi-final, so who will actually end up in the final? Find out in the preview below.
The Serbian has had a typical Djokovic week so far in Paris. He was fighting his level in the first match against Tallon Griekspoor, flirting with a loss, but ultimately came out on top.
He played far better against Rune even though, at times, his level was still on the shakier side. If the progression keeps up, and historically it has, Djokovic should play the best match he's played all week against Rublev.
If that does happen, he'll win, but if it doesn't, then Rublev might have a couple of things to say.
Head-to-head:
They've played a few times so far, and Rublev generally hasn't found the level needed to win. He's been okay this week, with a couple of good wins but nothing special. He'll need something more against Djokovic.
He failed to do that twice this year, losing at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. The only time Rublev outplayed Djokovic was on Serbian soil last year, though. He beat him in the Serbia Open final.
Prediction:
When it comes to this one, it's going to be tough for Rublev. Not only does the matchup not favour him, but also the venue. He's had some pretty poor performances in Paris over the years, while Djokovic has been historically good in Paris.
The Serbian nearly won the event last year, and he's widely expected to do so again with the way the draw has shaped up so far. Everything is really pointing to him as the winner, but he hasn't played a lot of tennis lately and has been dealing with a stomach issue, so maybe that drags him down a bit.
From a purely tennis point of view, it's his to lose.
Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in two sets.
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