“To be honest, I’ve been connected to machines more than I have been connected to anybody else or my bed or anything else really in the days off,” Djokovic instructed reporters after coolly packing off fifth seed Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday to succeed in his forty fourth grand slam semi-final and tenth at Melbourne Park.

“I’ve tried about any bio-feedback machine there is in this planet in order to get my leg ready and it worked. I’m going to keep going.”

While the breezy win despatched an ominous warning to his Australian Open rivals, he revealed he’s been hooked as much as machines to deal with his lingering hamstring damage for big a part of the 2 weeks.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds up flowers as he leaves Rod Laver Arena after defeating Andrey Rublev of Russia of their quarterfinal match on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

It was a one sided contest on the Rod Laver Arena in opposition to Rublev, 25, as Djokovic reached his forty fourth grand slam semi-final and tenth at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic meets unseeded American Tommy Paul, who beat compatriot Ben Shelton 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

“Last two matches, playing against two guys that are really good players, in-form players, to beat them dominantly in three sets is something that is definitely something that I want in this moment, something that sends a message to all my opponents remaining in the draw,” he instructed reporters.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts throughout his quarterfinal in opposition to Andrey Rublev of Russia on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

“With this kind of match, of course the confidence level rises, considering the circumstances. I feel good on the court, better and better as the tournament progresses. I’ve been in this situation in so many times in my life, in my career, never lost a semi-final in Australian Open,” he stated of the unsurprising but staggering stat.

Djokovic suffered the hamstring damage in Adelaide because it impacted the Serb’s return to Melbourne Park, after he missed the 2022 match being deportated for not being vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19. A left thigh strapped has been a continuing.

He spoke of his damage administration when he was requested concerning the irony of his straightforward wins.

“I miss tennis in the days off but at the same time I think it’s important to be smart and wise with the body in these particular circumstances where it’s more important to recover and get ready for next challenge,” he added, after the one gentle irritants on the day proved to be windy situations and a persistent heckler.