Novak Djokovic is set to face Alexander Zverev on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET in the Australian Open Grand Slam semifinals.
This will be their 13th meeting, with the Serbian holding an 8-4 lead in their previous encounters. Djokovic is a -150 favorite, with the total match games set at 39.5.
Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev Expert Pick
We nailed the Quarter Finals and predicted Novak Djokovic to outclass Carlos Alcaraz. It doesn’t get any easier for him in the Semi-Finals as he takes on the world's number two player.
Djokovic looked extremely sharp against Alcaraz, never losing his composure. Zverev, on the other hand, survived a 4-set match against American Tommy Paul. Had the German not recovered his serve late in the first set, he could've gone two sets to one down. If this happens against an elite-caliber player like Novak Djokovic, I don’t see him making a comeback.
This match will be a battle for both players. Zverev has been trying to get over the hump to win his first Major. Sadly, I don’t see it happening today against a determined 38-year-old Novak Djokovic, who leads the match series 3-0 in Grand Slams against Zverev.
I think this can go the distance, but it comes down to Zverev and his physiological issues. I see Djokovic again playing the baseline and capitalizing on Zverev's weakness. The short line indicates this will be very evenly matched, but in the end, I see Djokovic handling business and returning to the Australian Open Finals.
My Pick: Novak Djokovic ML -150
