Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Heavily-strapped Djokovic just ahead in intense first set
- 3 Mins ago Djokovic ready to serve...
- 8 Mins ago Coin toss is done
- 12 Mins ago Both the players are in the tunnel...
- 21 Mins ago The Djokovic injury conspiracy theory
- 36 Mins ago Overall head to head...
- 43 Mins ago Djokovic training in Melbourne
- 2 Mins ago Djokovic vs Zverev - recent head to head
- 19 Mins ago Djokovic gives practice sessions a miss
- 34 Mins ago What Djokovic said about his injury status
- 51 Mins ago Hello and welcome!
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Question marks remain over Novak Djokovic's fitness, with the Serb admitting that he is struggling with the thigh injury he had to manage while beating Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final. Alexander Zverev is playing his third Australian Open semi-final and is looking to reach the final for the first time in his career.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: It would be quite ominous for Alexander Zverev that Novak Djokovic managed to beat Carlos Alcaraz despite not being fully fit, especially if the latter is at a 100 percent today. The Serbian had been struggling early on in the match against Alcaraz but some taping on his upper leg and a few painkillers seemed to turn the whole game around. ...Read More
He did say, though, that he is not too sure about where he stands with the injury on the eve of today's match. "I'm concerned. I am, to be honest, physically," said Djokovic, a 10-time champion at Melbourne Park. "But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I'm as motivated as I can be."
He has had the benefit of two full days of recovery. Djokovic even skipped training for two days in a row. Just in case people haven't noticed, Djokovic is two wins away from an unprecedented 25th major in his career and a record-extending 11th trophy in Melbourne.
This will be Alexander Zverev's second consecutive semi-finals at the Australan Open. The German is easily among the best players in the world, testified by his status as a second seed in this tournament, but a Grand Slam title continues to elude him. This is the third time overall that he has reached the Australian Open semi-finals and he would be hoping to go past this stage for the first time in his career. If he does so, it will be the third different Grand Slam final he will play, having reached the title clashes of the French Open last year and US Open in 2020.
The winner of this match face either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton, who play their semi-final match after this today.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: An intense hold for Djokovic
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Well, Zverev got as many as four break points after 1-1 but in the end the German practically gifts Djokovic the winning point. Now what do we make of this? On the one hand, Djokovic is clearly struggling to land his first serve and he has been put under pressure in both his service holds thus far, while not putting too much of a challenge on Zverev's serve. On the other hand, though, Zverev has had some properly big chances to break in that game and failed, with commentators now saying that this may be a decisive moment in this match already.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic wins a screamer of a rally to take the first game!
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: An early reason for the Rod Laver Arena to take a few collective gasps. Zverev's shot drops off the net and Djokovic somehow reaches that, returns it at a sharp diagonal. The Gemran also charged forward and is able to reach that, Djokovic runs back to fetch the ball, Zverev's return is in the net. Zverev made Djokovic work for that hold there.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic ready to serve...
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Warm-ups done, silence around the ground and "ready to play," says the chair umpire. Djokovic starts with a service fault.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Coin toss is done
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev called it and he chooses to receive, both the players stick to the sides of the court they were given. And now they are warming up. A nice buzz going around the Rod Laver Arena. Of course there. It's the semi-final of the Australian Open!
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Both the players are in the tunnel...
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: All right then, we spot Djokovic in the tunnel first and Zverev joins him later.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: The Djokovic injury conspiracy theory
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: John McEnroe was not too convinced by Novak Djokovic's injury struggles in that quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz. During the first sign of an injury struggle, McEnroe said on air that it wasn't genuine and quickly warned Alcaraz not to be "fooled" by Djokovic. "This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine," the seven-time Major winner said, before he told Alcaraz: "Don’t be fooled."
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Overall head to head...
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: This will be the 13th match between Djokovic and Zverev. Out of their 12 previous encounters, Djokovic has won eight and this includes the 2021 Australian Open quarterfinal. They last faced off in 2023 in Cincinnati, with Djokovic again the winner, in two close sets.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic training in Melbourne
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: The great man has been spotted training at Melbourne Park ahead of the semi-final. It is scheduled to start at 9am IST and so not long to go for it.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic vs Zverev - recent head to head
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev ended Djokovic's chances of winning a golden slam in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, remember. He has won the three matches that these two have played against each other outside of Slams. In the Majors though, Djokovic has won all three of the matches they have faced in the same period.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic gives practice sessions a miss
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic had been absent from the practice courts on Wednesday. He then had a scheduled 2pm local time training session on Thursday but that was also wiped off on the morning of the day.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: What Djokovic said about his injury status
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: "I'm concerned. I am, to be honest, physically," said Djokovic, a 10-time champion at Melbourne Park. "But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I'm as motivated as I can be."
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Hello and welcome!
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz with one and a half legs, which is just ridiculous. If he has two full legs today, it would be bad news indeed for Alexander Zverev and so far, there have been no indications that the Serbian great is going to be dealing with any issues. Djokovic is chasing his 11th Australian Open and 25th Grand Slam, Zverev is trying to win his first and before that, reach the final of this tournament for the first time in his career.
