Tsitsipas, Djokovic in title match

MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic shrugged off controversy involving his father to reach a record-extending 10th Australian Open final on Friday and set up a blockbuster decider with Greek trailblazer Stefanos Tsitsipas and a battle for the world number one ranking.

Nine-times champion Djokovic kept his perfect semi-final record at Melbourne Park intact with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 win over outgunned American Tommy Paul at Rod Laver Arena where his father Srdjan was a conspicuous absentee.

Earlier on centre court, Tsitsipas saw off Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 to become the first Greek to reach the titledecider in a city boasting the biggest Greek population outside the southern European nation.

Srdjan Djokovic created a distraction for his son ahead of the semifinal after a video emerged showing him posing with fans holding Russian flags, which were banned at Melbourne Park early in the tournament.

Amid criticism from local politicians and the Ukraine embassy, he declined to attend the semifinal, saying he wanted to prevent "disruption" for his son.

For all that, a man in the terraces held up a Ukraine flag when Djokovic served in his direction and put it away when he swapped ends.

Whether or not his father's absence was weighing on him, Djokovic was in a foul mood even as he raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set, repeatedly yelling at his players' box in Serbian.

He bickered with the chair umpire over the time taken to get a towel between points, drawing loud jeers from fans.

Sensing his chance, Paul raised the pressure with some outstanding tennis, breaking the Serb twice and levelling the match at 5-5 after edging Djokovic in a 30-shot rally.

However, that was as good as it got for Paul, as Djokovic knuckled down to win 14 of the last 17 games in a stunning counter-attack 15 years to the day after his first Australian Open title as a 20-yearold.

"I’m really thankful that

I still have enough gas in my legs to play at this level on one of the biggest tennis courts in the world," said Djokovic on court.

"I know that without my family and my team, these things wouldn’t be possible."

Tsitsipas earlier savoured a golden afternoon in warm sunshine as he won his first Australian Open semifinal on the fourth attempt.

Sunday's decider will be a re-match of the 2021 French Open final, which Djokovic won from two sets down to leave the Greek heartbroken.

The winner will take the number one ranking from Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.

"I'd like that number," said Tsitsipas.

"It's a cornerstone final ... It's a childhood dream to be capturing the number one spot one day, I'm close.

"I've been wanting for many years now to put Greek tennis on the map, and me and Maria (Sakkari) have done an incredible job."

Tsitsipas can rely on a huge contingent of Greek fans to rival Djokovic's army of Serbian supporters.

They were in full voice as he traded breaks with Khachanov in a see-sawing opening set before he came alive in the tiebreak.

Tsitsipas was rattled by three foot-faults and two time violations on serve but steadied to take the second set.

A break down in the third,

Khachanov showed great courage to fight back to 5-5 and take the tiebreak after Tsitsipas blew two match points.

Tsitsipas regrouped, though, and roared to 3-0 in the last set before closing it out in dominant fashion.

WOMEN'S FINAL

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina began her Australian Open campaign on the outer courts at Melbourne Park but the 22nd seed is now just one step away from winning her second major, with only fellow big-hitter Aryna Sabalenka standing in her way.

Russian-born Rybakina switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 to get more financial support and went on to become the country's first major singles champion at the All England Club, where she beat Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the final.

While that victory brought prestige and financial reward, it did not boost her up the rankings.

The WTA stripped Wimbledon of ranking points for the tournament after organizers imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian players due to Russia's war in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation."

Rybakina would have climbed into the top 10 had the ranking points been available but she has proved she belongs in the spotlight at Melbourne Park, knocking out three Grand Slam champions en route to this year's title clash.

Playing flawless tennis and showing little emotion, the 23-year-old dismissed last year's runner-up Danielle Collins before eliminating title favourite Iga Swiatek, former Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko and twotimes Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

"I think it was a great challenge for me because for sure, they have experience of winning Grand Slams, so it was nothing new for them," Rybakina, who beat Azarenka 7-6(4), 6-3 in the semifinals, said.

"This time I would say that it was a bit easier compared to Wimbledon when I was playing for the first time the quarters, semis, final.

"For sure they're very experienced players. I knew I have to focus on every point. I think in the end I did well."

NEUTRAL CHAMPION?

Belarusian Sabalenka finally looks to be delivering on years of promise and will be making her first appearance in a Grand Slam final after falling at the semifinal stage three times.

The powerful fifth seed defeated unheralded Pole Magda Linette 7-6(1), 6-2 to reach Saturday's title match at Rod Laver Arena and will look to fight fire with fire against Rybakina.

Sabalenka, who has notched up 10 successive straight-sets victories this year, including a run to the Adelaide title, was unable to compete at Wimbledon due to the ban and said she only watched some of it on TV.

"I was feeling really bad about that (ban) and didn't watch Wimbledon at all," the 24-year-old said.

"I mean, little bit the final because I was working out in the gym. I saw a bit. It was great tennis."

With Russian and Belarusian players only allowed to compete as individual athletes without national affiliation at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka could become the first neutral athlete to win a Grand Slam.

"Let's talk about that if I win it," she said. "I don't like to speak about 'if'. I just want to work for it, do my best.