Australian Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner in semi-finals

Novak Djokovic’s route to Australian Open semi-finals:

1st round: vs Dino Prizmic (Q) – won 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-3

2nd round: vs Alexei Popyrin – won 6-3 4-6 7-6 6-3

3rd round: vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry (30) -won 6-3 6-3 7-6

4th round: vs Adrian Mannarino (20) – won 6-0 6-0 6-3

Quarter-finals: vs Taylor Fritz (12) – won 7-6 4-6 6-2 6-3

Novak Djokovic has won 33 matches in a row at the Australian Open and has never lost a semi-final as he targets a record-extending 11th title in Melbourne.

On his streak:”If there is any tournament where I’m going to dig deep, it’s the Grand Slam, right? Particularly here where, you know, I’m aware of the streak that I’m on and the amount of matches that I have won in my career on the Rod Laver Arena. I don’t want to let that go. The longer the streak goes, the more that kind of confidence, also expectations built, but also the willingness to really walk the extra mile, so to say. Yeah, I just love playing in this court. It’s been “the” court for me in my career.”

Jannik Sinner faces moment of truth against Novak Djokovic in Australian Open semi-finals

In November, Jannik Sinner faced three match points against Novak Djokovic with Italy’s Davis Cup hopes on the line. Defeat would have spelled the end in the semi-finals, and with Djokovic looming over the baseline, primed for his next return, Sinner stared at a near-impossible task. Instead, the 22-year-old held firm. He saved all three match points behind brave serving and a rock-solid backhand, denying Djokovic. Sinner went on to claim his second victory against the world No 1 in as many weeks, following his win in the group stages of the ATP Finals.

It may have just been one game and one hold from 0-40 down, but that five-minute spell in Malaga at the end of last season may prove transformative in the young career of Sinner. The Italian not only survived but steered his nation past Serbia and into the Davis Cup final, where he again won the decisive match against Australia to lift the trophy. On Friday, in the Australian Open semi-finals, the Italian will face Djokovic for the fourth time in three months as he aims to reach his first grand slam final. Sinner has won two of their last three matches and, this time, the odds are considerably shorter than when Djokovic held those match points.

Jannik Sinner’s route to Australian Open semi-finals:

1st round: vs Botic van de Zandschulp – won 6-4 7-5 6-3

2nd round: vs Jesper de Jong (Q) – won 6-2 6-2 6-2

3rd round: vs Sebastian Baez (26) – won 6-0 6-1 6-3

4th round: vs Karen Khachanov (15) – won 6-4 7-5 6-3

5th round: vs Andrey Rublev (5) – won 6-4 7-6 6-3

Jannik Sinner on facing Novak Djokovic:

“This is what I practise for, to play against the best players in the world. Obviously he has an incredible record here, so for me it’s a pleasure to play against him, especially in the final stages of the tournament where things are a little bit more interesting.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be tough. This, I know. I will control the controllable, which is giving 100 per cent, having the right attitude, fighting for every ball. And then we see the outcome. More than this, I cannot do. It doesn’t really matter who my opponent is.”

Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head

2023 Davis Cup: Sinner 6-2, 2-6, 7-5

2023 Tour Finals: Djokovic 6-3 6-3

2023 Tour Finals: Sinner 7-5 6-7(5) 7-6(2)

2023 Wimbledon: Djokovic 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)

2022 Wimbledon: Djokovic 5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

2021 Monte Carlo: Djokovic 6-4 6-2

Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner

Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev

You can watch the Australian Open live on Discovery+ and Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.

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When is Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner?

The Australian Open men’s semi-finals are being played on Friday 26 January. Djokovic vs Sinner will be the first match on Rod Laver Arena and will start from 3:30am GMT (UK time).

It will be followed by the second semi-final between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, which will start from 8:30am GMT.

Novak Djokovic faces the toughest test of his Australian Open title defence so far as the 10-time champion takes on fourth seed Jannik Sinner in a mouthwatering semi-final clash. Djokovic has never lost an Australian Open semi-final, winning every tournament in which he has reached the final four, but Sinner comes into the clash in red-hot form.

The Italian has not dropped a set so far and has won two of his previous three meetings against Djokovic, including in sensational fashion in the Davis Cup semi-finals in September. Djokovic thrashed Sinner in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-finals last season but the 22-year-old has made significant improvements to his game and Melbourne Park could be set for a classic.

In the other semi-final, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev renew their rivalry as they meet at a grand slam for the first time. Zverev produced a sensational performance to defeat Carlos Alcaraz while Medvedev required another five-set epic to outlast Hubert Hurkacz. Zverev has faced off-court scrutiny regarding his forthcoming domestic abuse trial – he denies the allegations – and is bidding to reach his first Australian Open final.

Follow live scores, updates and results from the Australian Open in today’s live blog: