Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Djokovic stuns Melbourne with retirement, Zverev wins

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Well Djokovic's dodgy leg was expected to cause him problems today. But he was looking very much in control, if anything it was Zverev who was looking rather passive and defensive. In the end, it was all too much for Djokovic and his quest for a 11th Australian Open comes to an end. Zverev, on the other hand, is through to the final in Melbourne for the first time in his career. Up next is Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton and that match starts at 2pm IST. Thanks for stickin around. Hooroo!

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev asks the crowd to not boo Djokovic or any player when they are forced to retire with an injury. "I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see, hopefully, a great five set match and everything. But you gotta understand that Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given the sport for the past 20 years, absolutely everything of his life. He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear. He has won this tournament with a hamstring tear. If he can not continue a tennis match, it really means that he can not continue a tennis match. So please be respectful and really show some love for Novak as well," he said.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Wow, everybody at the Rod Laver Arena is stunned, including Zverev. Some unsavoury scenes as there are large parts of the crowd that are booing. Djokovic turns around with his bags on his shoulders and puts up two thumbs up to the crowd. Djokovic sends the ball into the net and loses the first set tie-break. He then immediately turns to the chair umpire and then shakes hands with Zverev. Wow.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev makes it 4-3 with a second serve. Djokovic responds with an ace of his own to make it 4-4. Still no break in this match.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev produces some big booming serve, as he has all set long and takes the game without losing a point. However, the commentators are saying that Zverev's lack of ruthlessness is starting to let Djokovic into the game. The German, as usual, has largely stayed on the baseline.

Djokovic 6-6 Zverev in the first set

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: That is the first love-hold of this match and it has come more than an hour after it started. Which is just how intense this first se has been. He finishes it off with his seventh ace of this match. Zverev has come agonisingly close to breaking Djokovic throughout this set. Can this be the moment.

Djokovic 5-5 Zverev in the 1st set

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: And on the other hand, Djokovic hasn't been able to push Zverev on his serve. Zverev holds with another ace and then manages to get a break point with Djokovic on 30.

Djokovic 4-4 Zverev in the first set

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: Zverev with a couple of booming aces to make it 3-3. He then fell behind but fought back to take the game to deuce. Zverev then buries his drop shot in the net to concede the advantage and then can't return a stunning serve from Djokovic.

Djokovic 4-3 Zverev in the first set.

Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev LIVE, Australian Open: 3 break points for Djokovic as unforced errors creep up on Zverev. But in the end, the German manages to complete the hold. It is a pleasant day out there in Melbourne and Djokovic has his cap on now.

Djokovic 2-2 Zverev in the first set

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: 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: 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: 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: All right then, we spot Djokovic in the tunnel first and Zverev joins him later.

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: 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: 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: 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 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: "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: 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.