John Isner and Steve Johnson both agree about Alexander Zverev ahead of his Australian Open semi-final with Novak Djokovic

Alexander Zverev is back into the Australian semi-finals as he looks to put his defeat from last year behind him.

Zverev made history at the Australian Open, beating Tommy Paul in four sets to reach his third semi-final in Melbourne.

Despite his impressive victory over Paul, Zverev was frustrated after he discovered that some technology was not in use at the Australian Open.

Putting the drama behind him, Zverev will focus on his semi-final with Novak Djokovic as he looks to reach his first Australian Open final after being one set away last year.

The German has never beaten the 24-time Grand Slam champion before at a major tournament, but Djokovic’s fitness is currently in doubt after struggling with a leg injury against Carlos Alcaraz.

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Steve Johnson explains what Alexander Zverev has improved at Grand Slams

Although Zverev beat Paul in four sets, it was actually the American who first had set points in all of the opening three sets, but was unable to convert.

This is something that former world number 21 Steve Johnson noticed, and pointed out as something that Zverev has improved.

“I think having Sascha [Zverev] being a bit of an afterthought at some these Slams, with Carlos [Alcaraz] and Jannik [Sinner] winning them all, I feel like his demeanour and his comfortability on the court is exponentially better than it was three or four years ago when he was talked about at every slam as being a heavy favourite or someone that can do it,” Johnson said on the Nothing Major Podcast.

“Getting broken and breaking back in those moments is something I feel he has really improved on. He’s not getting frustrated at 5-5 in the first. He just keeps his head down, goes to the bench, gets a return at 5-6 and then breaks.

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“He is more comfortable in his own skin in those moments now, which I think is a very good attribute to have if he is to hoist this trophy. I feel he is a much better tennis player now than he was a few years ago.”

John Isner agrees with Steve Johnson and previews Australian Open semi-final

Zverev played his second major final against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros last year, losing in five sets after leading the match.

This is not the only Grand Slam final he has been ahead in, with Zverev also leading Dominic Thiem by two sets to love at the 2020 US Open.

When looking back on those matches, John Isner explained how impressed he has been at Zverev’s ability to bounce back from disappointment.

“That’s a good point,” Isner said in response to the aforementioned Johnson. “He has had some really close calls in Grand Slams, we know that. The US Open all those years ago against Thiem, he served for the championship. The French Open against Alcaraz last year, those two specifically.

“It doesn’t seem he has let those results rattle him at all. He had the unlucky event where he rolled his ankle against Rafa [Nadal], deep in that second set. So he has had some tough luck in the some tough moments, but it doesn’t seem like it has rattled him.

“If anything it seems that it’s fuelling him to eventually get over that finish line and win a Grand Slam. His road is not easy, he has to beat the greatest player of all time and then most likely the number one player in the world.”

Zverev backs Isner’s claims about Djokovic, with their Australian Open semi-final taking place in the day session on Friday January 24.

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