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For tennis fans on the couch or in the home office, it's a popcorn match at lunchtime.

Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, will probably have to strengthen themselves with pain pills for their eagerly awaited duel.

Before the quarter-finals at the Australian Open on Tuesday (probably 11 a.m. CET / Eurosport), the fitness of eight-time Melbourne champion Djokovic in particular is puzzling.

Just like Zverev, the Serb has problems with the abdominal muscles, but the German number one and her team do not want to deal with them.

"Novak is a champion, he can get out of any situation," said Zverev's older brother and manager Mischa at Eurosport after training in Melbourne Park.

Boris Becker - Djokovic's coach for three years - said as an expert for the TV broadcaster: “He's got something, but I don't think it's a torn muscle.

Something tweaks him. "

Injuries on both sides

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Even the still handicapped Alexander Zverev does not want to waste a lot of thought on the health of the world number one.

"The hardest match is still ahead of me," said the 23-year-old before his fifth quarter-finals at a Grand Slam tournament.

Never before has the semi-finalist of the previous year been able to beat a top ten player in a Grand Slam.

Competing now against Djokovic is one of the toughest challenges in tennis - it's just a shame that no fans are allowed to be in the Rod Laver Arena.

However, Zverev should not fail because of the motivation.

When asked about his favorite place on the day off in Melbourne, he replied tersely: “Training place, I don't need more.” On Instagram, Zverev received support from Thomas Müller, among others.

The FC Bayern professional, who is currently suffering from Corona, commented on a photo of the tennis star with the words: "Go on, Alex."

His own complaints, which previously prevented him from striking at full speed, are slowly getting better.

But the world number seventh did not want to say many words about himself - also to not reveal anything to Djokovic.

"I think he listens to everything you say," explained Zverev.

Zverev expects a quick game

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Djokovic actually did not want to reveal any details after his win against Canadian Milos Raonic.

But the 33-year-old talked in great detail about the fact that he had only decided to compete at the last moment and that it will probably be the same on Tuesday.

A short-term cancellation for the quarter-finals would come as a surprise.

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The first in the world rankings is chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, while the Swiss Roger Federer, who was missing in Melbourne, and Rafael Nadal, who made it through to the quarter-finals on Monday, each had 20th 2:16 hours 6: 3, 6: 4, 6: 2.

The Spaniard stays in Melbourne without losing a set.

In the long and fascinating race of the big three for supremacy in tennis, defending champion Djokovic will continue to give everything that is in his battered body.

Zverev's brother Mischa expects Djokovic to play more aggressively than usual in view of rising temperatures and the fast course as well as the health conditions.

"I don't think he really wants to make long rallies when it's actually his game," said the former Melbourne quarter-finalist.

Balance speaks for Djokovic

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The balance speaks against Zverev: 2: 5 from the perspective of the 1.98 meter tall professional against Djokovic so far, just two weeks ago he was defeated in the same place at the ATP Cup in three sets.

“I don't expect anything other than the great battle we had last.

You have to pray a bit that you read the serve at the right moment and get the break, ”said Djokovic before the eighth duel.

His challenger wants to remember the two previous successes that were milestones for him.

He won the first duel in 2017 on clay in the final of the Masters tournament in Rome, and in November 2018 Zverev celebrated the greatest success of his career by winning the final of the ATP Finals in London.

For the first Grand Slam title, Zverev was only two points short of the US Open in the final against Dominic Thiem last year - he would still be a long way off in Melbourne, even if he had a success over Djokovic.

And in the final, the other title-hungry record hunter could wait in Nadal.