Novak Djokovic vs Grigor Dimitrov preview, prediction | Australian Open 2023
Serb Novak Djokovic will play against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the Australian Open. The match will take place on January 21, starting at 08:00 GMT.
See also – Injured champion Rafael Nadal bows out of Australian Open
Australian Open 2023
 Novak Djokovic | vs |  Grigor Dimitrov |
Match Details
Tournament: Australian Open 2023.
Round: Third Round (Round of 32).
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia.
Category: Grand Slam.
Prize Money: A$76,500,000.
Novak Djokovic has already lost one set. In the second round, the tennis player lost the game to Enzo Coco. Immediately after that, Djokovic defeated the Frenchman with a score of 6:1, 6:7, 6:2, 6:0.
Three sets were enough to defeat Roberto Carballes-Baena – 6:3, 6:4, 6:0. However, everyone noticed that Djokovic is tense, including during his interviews. The fact is that he continues to worry about damage to the hip.
“Everything is not good at all. Now only God and my physiotherapist can help me. There are two options: withdraw or continue. I’m going to continue,” Novak said after the game with Koko.
How the situation really is, only Djokovic himself knows. But if the problem really interferes, then it will be very difficult further, including already in the match with Dimitrov.
Grigor Dimitrov overcame the first rounds very easily, still not losing a set in the Australian Open 2023. In the first match, the Bulgarian tennis player stopped the Russian Aslan Karatsev – 7:6, 7:5, 6:2.
Then there was a crushing victory over Serb Laszlo Djere – 6:3, 6:2, 6:0. When Grigor is not bothered by injuries, he rarely has problems in matches with such opponents.
In the first half of January, Dimitrov defeated Borna Coric at an exhibition tournament in Kooyong, and before that he defeated David Goffenu at the United Cup.
There was also a match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, in which the ex-third racket of the world lost in a decisive tie-break.
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Head to Head
Novak Djokovic has won nine out of ten matches against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, including all seven of his last matches on the tour.
The last time both tennis players met each other was at the Paris Masters 2019, where the Serbian won 7-6(5), 6-4.
Prediction
| Novak Djokovic win 1.17 | Grigor Dimitrov win 5.25 |
Grigor won only one of 11 previous matches against Novak. It hardly makes sense to talk about the fact that now he has a great way to stop the Serb, who is worried about the injury.
If Djokovic comes out to play, then it’s not so bad. In general, it won’t come to defeat, but Dimitrov will still not become an obstacle to the best tennis player on the planet.
Prediction: At least one set will have a tie-break.
