Australian Open, men’s singles final live, Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev: On serve in 1st set

Medvedev to serve to stay in the set... this is typically Djoker zone.

STAT: Both men are serving at similar numbers so far. Djokovic (71%) slightly better than Medvedev (67%) in first serve percentage.

First set, Djokovic 5-4 Medvedev: Djokovic is one game away from the opening set as he does the job efficiently on his serve. Holds at 15. The final point of the game was another excellent rally but ends with Medvedev missing a simple backhand at net, arguably the biggest weakness in his all-round game.

First set, Djokovic 4-4 Medvedev: Another bruising rally in that game but Medvedev uses the angle on his serves well to pick up a couple of easy points. It is so critical, one would think, for both of them to pick up quick points on their serves when possible. Because when the rallies come, they are going to be brutal.

First set, Djokovic 4-3 Medvedev: The top seed races to a 40-0 lead on his serve and then misses a forehand. For starters, he is moving really well by the way. In case you were wondering, no hindrances evidently. Closes the game out with a fabulous volley, set up by a deep forehand. Both men are in rhythm now and the rallies are starting to live to the pre-match promise.

First set, Djokovic 3-3 Medvedev: And now it is Medvedev’s turn to hold to love! Both men have consolidated their breaks well so far in this set. Djokovic is being forced into making a few more errors now.

First set, Djokovic 3-2 Medvedev: ON SERVE AGAIN! What a game from Medvedev. It was just starting to look like Djokovic was going to run away with this set but a missed forehand at 15-15 from the Serb gives a small chance for the Russian. And he follows that up with one of the rallies of the night (might not see many better) where both men went at each other from the baseline. ND’s drop shot is in the net and gives DM two break points. The Russian takes the game when Djokovic misses an overhead smash from the sidelines.

Ah well, if that rally in the 5th game of the first set is anything to go by, we are going to be here for a while.

First set, Djokovic 3-1 Medvedev: Medvedev needs an easy hold here but he’s getting pushed. Even if not for this set, but for the match and his chances. He opens up a 40-15 lead with a few quick points but Djokovic pushes him in the next two rallies, the Russian just about manages to hold at 30.

First set, Djokovic 3-0 Medvedev: How do you a player is in the zone early doors? When he breaks serve and consolidates it with a love hold. Djokovic is off to a flier!

First set, Djokovic 2-0 Medvedev: BREAK OF SERVE! A window of opportunity early for Djokovic at 15-30 as Medvedev is unable to find his hitting rhythm. He then nets a forehand to face two break points and comes up with a booming forehand winner. But Djokovic converts the 2nd BP after a good rally, and that was set up by another one of his trademark returns. What a start for the Serb.

If you are in the mood for some numbers (and to truly realise how good the Serb is), read about Djokovic’s statistics at the Aus Open here.

First set, Djokovic 1-0 Medvedev: As solid a start as Djokovic could have hoped for when he woke up this morning. Starts the night with an ace, plays a couple of good one-two punches and holds to 15 with a wide unreturned serve. Easy does it.

Djokovic to serve...

2.15 pm: The players are on the court! This promises to be a cracker, folks. Well, not quick like a cracker because it is potentially going to go the distance but promises to be exciting for sure. Drama won’t be in short supply. Watch out for how these two gentlemen play the crowd too.

STAT ALERT: The win % of Djokovic at Aus Open is ridiculously good. Here’s how it compares to the best surface records of the game’s greatest.

Zenia D’Cunha: Given the styles & strength of Djokovic and Medvedev, this could be a long, physical, intense battle which deserved five sets. Good luck to all live bloggers.

2.05 pm: Before the men’s singles final... read the feature on Naomi Osaka by Scroll.in’s tennis writer Zenia D’Cunha.

Aus Open: With fourth Major, superstar Naomi Osaka sets an important benchmark for women’s tennis

2.00 pm: The task in front of Medvedev is possibly the joint-hardest in tennis right now: like beating Nadal at Roland Garros, beating Djokovic at the Aus Open final is as tough as it gets. The Serb has NEVER lost a final at this event.

Head-to-head: Djokovic leads 4-3

2020 ATP Finals, London, round-robin: Medvedev bt Djokovic 6-3, 6-3

2020 ATP Cup, Sydney, semi-final: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-1, 5-7, 6-4

2019 Cincinnati, semi-final: Medvedev bt Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

2019 Monaco, quarter-final: Medvedev bt Djokovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

2019 Australian Open, round of 16: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3

2017 Eastbourne semi-final: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-4, 6-4

2017 Davis Cup, World Group Round 1, Nis, Serbia: Djokovic bt Medvedev 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 ret

Form guide

The world No 1 is into his ninth decider at Australian Open but it has been a rollercoaster ride to get there, with Djokovic uncharacteristically dropping five sets as he battled an abdominal injury that nearly forced him to pull out.

On the other hand, Medvedev has dropped just two sets in his first-ever five-set win and is unbeaten since last November, that includes a straight-set drubbing of the Serb at the ATP Finals in London. He has won the Paris Masters, ATP Finals and ATP Cup during this run, the latter two being a tournament where only the cream compete.

Djokovic says going unbeaten in eight Australian Open finals will give him confidence in Sunday’s decider, but he’ll need more than that to overcome the Russian who has become “the man to beat” in the Serb’s own words.

01.40 pm: Medvedev has the best form of any men’s player over the past few months – a 20-match winning streak dating back to November.

During Medvedev’s flawless run he has won titles at the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals in London and the ATP Cup with Team Russia.

The Russian will move to second in the world rankings with a win on Sunday – the first man other then Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic or Andy Murray to occupy a spot in top two since July 2005 when Lleyton Hewitt was ranked two, behind Federer. Will move to number three if he loses.

Path to the semi-final:

1st rd: bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-2, 6-2, 6-4

2nd rd: bt Roberto Carballes (ESP) 6-2, 7-5, 6-1

3rd rd: bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB x28) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-0

4th rd: bt Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3

Quarter-final: bt Andrey Rublev (RUS x7) 7-5, 6-3, 6-2

Semi-final: bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5

01.39 pm: Djokovic’s chance of taking a record-extending ninth Australian Open crown looked in jeopardy just over a week ago when he suffered a potentially tournament-ending abdominal injury in the third round against Taylor Fritz.

But he battled back with the help of painkillers to win in five sets and his injury has improved remarkably since, despite not training between matches.

“This is the best I’ve felt in the entire tournament,” said Djokovic after ending the dream run of Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev to reach his ninth Australian Open final.

“I could swing through the ball. No pain. The best match so far. Couldn’t be better timing for me to play my best tennis.”

Path to the semi-final:

1st rd: bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2

2nd rd: bt Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3

3rd rd: bt Taylor Fritz (USA x27) 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2

4th rd: bt Milos Raonic (CAN x14) 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

Quarter-final: bt Alexander Zverev (GER x6) 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6)

Semi-final: bt Aslan Karatsev (RUS) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

01.36 pm: The head-to-head records... Djokovic leads 4-3

2020 ATP Finals, London, round-robin: Medvedev bt Djokovic 6-3, 6-3

2020 ATP Cup, Sydney, semi-final: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-1, 5-7, 6-4

2019 Cincinnati, semi-final: Medvedev bt Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

2019 Monaco, quarter-final: Medvedev bt Djokovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

2019 Australian Open, round of 16: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-3

2017 Eastbourne semi-final: Djokovic bt Medvedev 6-4, 6-4

2017 Davis Cup, World Group Round 1, Nis, Serbia: Djokovic bt Medvedev 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 ret

01.30 pm: Hello and welcome to our coverage of the men’s singles final of the 2021 Australian Open between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic heads into the final unbeaten on eight previous occasions in the title match, but knowing he will need to be at his mental and physical best to overcome red-hot Russian.

The Serbian world number one has had to battle injury and extract new levels of determination just to get to the final.

An abdominal injury in the third round put him on the brink of an early exit and left him unable to train between matches.

But after his semi-final win over another Russian, Aslan Karatsev, Djokovic reported he felt fitter than at any time during the Melbourne fortnight

Today, he will face an entirely different challenge against “chess player” Medvedev – the form man of tennis who is on a 20-match winning streak.

Medvedev, the world number four, is unbeaten since last November, including a straight-sets drubbing of the Serb at the ATP Finals in London.