Europe 1 with AFP 8:17 p.m., January 25, 2023

Novak Djokovic qualified for his tenth Australian Open semi-final on Wednesday and so far he has always won the tournament by arriving in the last four.

In the women's draw, Magda Linette and Aryna Sabalenka will face each other on Thursday for a place in the final, as will Victoria Azarenka and Elena Rybakina, who qualified the day before.

Since his first title in Melbourne in 2008, Novak Djokovic has always won the tournament when he managed to climb into the semis.

This is what he did for the tenth time on Wednesday at the Australian Open, beating Russian Andrey Rublev (6th in the world) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

"I can't be happier with my tennis," assured the 35-year-old Serb, seeking a 22nd Grand Slam title in Melbourne to equal Rafael Nadal's record, which would also allow him to regain the place of world number 1.

With sometimes a little success, he completely stifled the game of the Russian slugger and was decisive in key moments.

"In all the important moments, on all the important points, I knew how to find my best tennis," he said.

Still, his left thigh, still heavily bandaged, visibly bothered him for two sets.

To the point of seeing him display a certain nervousness.

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Tommy Paul on the road to the "Djoker"

The Serb has repeated that he is unable to train on rest days because he is 'connected to machines more than anything else, even (his) bed' in an attempt to keep him fit to play .

"It worked, I'm still here", he said, adding a little later that his two victories against Dimitrov and Rublev, in three very convincing sets were "a message" to his opponents.

The next will be the American Tommy Paul (35th) who dominated his even more unexpected compatriot Ben Shelton (89th) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

At 25, he had never passed the knockout stages of a Major (Wimbledon 2022).

"It's the first time I've played on this court, the first time I've played a quarter-final, so for me too, it's a beautiful trip," said Paul in reference to his opponent who had no never left the United States before.

The second semi-final will pit the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (4th) against the Russian Karen Khachanov (20th).

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Sabalenka and Linette, very first time

It is not the expected Pole who will be at the last four: Magda Linette will play her first Grand Slam semi-final against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka for whom it will be the fourth.

Linette (45th), who had taken out one of the favorites, Caroline Garcia (4th), in the round of 16 dismissed Czech Karolina Pliskova (31st) 6-3, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.

"I find it hard to believe, but it continues," said the compatriot of Iga Swiatek who had never passed the third round in a Grand Slam.

The emotion is all the stronger since two years ago she had to give up at the very last moment to play the tournament due to a knee injury and her return to the circuit was complicated.

"I had to make complicated decisions, but I'm reaping the benefits now", welcomed the player who will celebrate her 30th birthday on February 21, highlighting in particular having learned to be "calmer".

To go even further, she will have to dismiss the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (5th).

After three consecutive knockout stages in Melbourne, the latter has finally overcome the obstacle and seems unstoppable: she dismissed Croatian Donna Vekic (64th) 6-3, 6-2 in one hour in the quarter.

"It's always difficult to play against her (Vekic, editor's note). But I expected her to play the way she did and so I was ready," commented the 24-year-old.

Since the start of the year, she still hasn't lost a single set with a title at Adelaide 1. Sabalenka has already played three Grand Slam semi-finals (Wimbledon 2021, US Open 2021 and 2022) without ever reach the final.