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Zverev drops the opening point of the game but bounces back to take the next four points and take the hold and make it 3-3. Whereas Djokovic is hitting just 36% of his first serves, the German is landing 81% of the time, firing in back-to-back aces to take this game.
After a shaky opening two services, Djokovic is able to get his first serve working on the third attempt and it pays dividends, dropping just the one point – an unforced error as he attempted to drop a backhand just over the net -- as he takes hold to go up 3-2.
Zverev makes it much harder than it needed to be but, eventually, produces the hold. Three straight unforced errors to open give Djokovic three break points but the German saves all of them to force it to deuce, where an ace gives him the advantage and a powerful shot sent straight into his opponent at the net gives him the forced error to take the game.
Djokovic produces another hold to go up 2-1 but his inability to land a first serve is already looking like it could be an issue going forward. Landing just four of his 21 serves at the first time of asking so far, the Serb was taken to break point four times in that game only to fight back and eventually produce the hold. Unable to land a decisive blow, the host broadcaster is already postulating that the occasion may be getting to Zverev.
A much less dramatic hold for Zverev, working his serve and baseline play to drop just a single point.
Djokovic isn’t able to land a first serve in the opening game but still takes it. Zverev pounces on his serve to set up his first winner of the match in its opening point before we get our first long rally – what is sure to be many in the hours ahead – one in which the Serb takes his first point of the game, one which he backs up with a forearm volley to move ahead. Zverev can’t keep his return of a serve down the T as it goes to 40-15 lead but he stays in it after Djokovic sends a forehand long.
But Djokovic gets the hold; both players charging forward after the German has a shot just drop off the top of the net and exchanging drop shots – Zverev sending his around the net – only for the Serb to find a winner.
It’s a pleasant day in Melbourne, the oppresive heat that has characterised some of the previous days play giving way to a balmy 21 degrees as this semifinal begins. In other words, the weather shouldn’t be a factor in this contest.
Yesterday, of course, saw Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys move into the women’s final. Jack Snape and Tumaini Carayol have recapped all the action.
Sinner put paid to the last of Australian hopes in the men’s draw when he continued his domination over Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals but the local crowd was given something to cheer yesterday when local duo Olivia Gadecki and John Peers took out the mixed doubles.
Jack Snape has filed this from Melbourne.
Djokovic and Zverev have made their way out onto Rod Laver, the tension rising even higher as play approaches.
The last time Djokovic and Zverev met at a grand slam came in 2021, in the semifinals of the US Open. On that day, the German took out the first set and was able to push Djokovic to five sets but, in the end, was unable to deny him.
No. 1 Novak Djokovic wins in five sets over No. 4 Alexander Zverev, advancing to the #USOpen final 👏
Djokovic will compete for the calendar slam and his 21st career major title on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/daziXzlYYf
Tumaini Carayol’s work in Melbourne across the past few weeks has been superb and his scene setter for today’s men’s semifinals is no different.
Even before he had undergone medical tests, defined the nature of his physical ailment and planned for his recovery, Novak Djokovic knew what was in store for him in the days after his remarkable quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, which he pulled off despite struggling with left thigh pain.
Preamble
In the moments that matter, when one moment can prove the difference between winning and losing, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have thrived.
Perhaps none in history have shown the ability to rise to the occasion like the Serb, a level of fortitude and belief without peer taking him to heights few could ever dream of. In Sinner’s words, he likes to “dance in the pressure storm”, Melbourne’s Olympic Park seeing this last year when he came back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. These are the mountains that await Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton.
Later tonight will see men’s top seed and defending champion Sinner take the court in prime time against Shelton, the American 21st seed seeking to avoid becoming the 20th straight competitor to challenge the Italian at a hard court grand slam only to be dispatched by the increasingly imperious world No 1.
First, though, it will be Zverev looking to do something that precious few have been able to do over the years, especially on Rod Laver Arena, and what he himself has never been able to do in three attempts at a grand slam: deny the Djoker.
And whereas Djokovic has built a legend on his ability to persevere, the biggest stage has not been all too kind to the German second seed across his career. So often he has flirted with glory – and did claim an Olympic Gold medal in 2021 after a run which included a win over Djokovic – but as shown in last year’s French Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz, grand slams have proven too great a mountain in the past.
Can he overcome these demons? We’re about to find out.
Play: 2.30pm local, 3.30am GMT.
