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Shelton breaks: Sinner 0-1 Shelton* (*denotes next server)
Ladies and gentlemen, Jannik Sinner won the toss and will serve first. Ready? Let’s play. Shelton, perhaps emboldened by Zverev upsetting the odds earlier, smashes away a winner to take the first point. The American bides his time in the next rally, resisting the urge to pull the trigger as he’s usually tempted to do, and Sinner makes the error! 0-30. A poor miss from Shelton and it’s 15-30, but Sinner slaps a backhand into the net and here are two break points at 15-40! Sinner has not got going at all. And he’s left rooted to the spot as Shelton rips a forehand winner down the line on the second break point!
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Tik! Tok! Tik! Tok! They’re warming up. Shelton looks early-career Rafa with his bulging biceps and sleeveless top, which is a very similar yellow/orange/pink colour (how to describe it? sherbert? sunrise?) to the outfit Iga Swiatek wore yesterday – but he’ll be hoping to fare better than she did. Sinner’s gone for a more subdued pastel yellow and white number.
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Updated at 03.46 EST
Here they are, the pair sharing a nice exchange behind the scenes, before walking on to court, with Shelton introduced to the crowd first. Shelton was angered by the on-court interviewer telling him after his quarter-final that he’d have little support from the crowd today … but he gets a good reception from the fans, even though Sinner gets a louder one. Not that Shelton probably heard either, as he’s got his headphones on.
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Route to the semi-final. Sinner has dropped a couple of sets along the way, and felt unwell in his fourth-round win over Holger Rune, but was in ruthless form in the quarter-finals, with his statement demolition of the home favourite Alex de Minaur for the loss of just six games. Shelton, unsurprisingly, has played more tennis to get to this point but has never been in serious danger.
Sinner
1R def Nicolas Jarry 7-6, 7-6, 6-1
2R def Tristan Schoolkate 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
3R def Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
4R def Holger Rune (13) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
QF def Alex de Minaur (8) 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Shelton
1R def Brandon Nakashima 7-6, 7-5, 7-5
2R def Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
3R def Lorenzo Musetti (16) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
4R def Gael Monfils 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 ret
QF def Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6
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We do have Sinner’s pre-match thoughts though.
We know each other a little bit better now. We had some tough matches last year, so let’s see what’s coming. [He has] one of the biggest serves we have on tour. He’s a very aggressive player, an all-around player. He can go to the net, he can stay back.
He is one of the best servers on tour, lefty, different rotation of the ball is coming, so hopefully I’m ready. Hopefully I can return as many serves as possible and then trying to stay very concentrated about my game.
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The current picture behind the scenes: Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, is warming up on an exercise bike. Shouldn’t it be Sinner?! No signs of the numero uno …
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Sinner and Shelton should be on court very shortly, so let’s get back to looking forward to that. Sinner leads their head-to head 4-1. Shelton won their first meeting, in 2023, but Sinner has won all four since in straight sets – though several of those sets went to a tie-break. That’s probably Shelton’s best chance today: take care of his own service games and then try to snatch the breakers. I’m not sure he has consistency to break Sinner multiple times.
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Djokovic also spoke about his future afterwards, saying he was unsure if he’d return to the Australian Open next year. “I don’t know. There is a chance,” the 37-year-old said when asked if his retirement against Zverev could be his final appearance in Melbourne. “Who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going. But whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure.”
On his trial coaching partnership with Andy Murray, he said: “We are both disappointed with what just happened, so we didn’t talk about the future. I’ll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me. I’ll give him my feedback, which is positive, and see how he feels and we will make the next step.”
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If you’re just joining us, here’s Jack’s report on Djokovic’s injury and Zverev’s progression to the final:
Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was booed off the court by some sections of the Rod Laver Arena audience when he sensationally retired hurt from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday after losing the first set.
The Serb suffered an injury to his groin area in his quarter-final against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday and took to the court with both dark tape and a white bandage enveloping his upper thigh.
He revealed afterwards he had not hit a ball since his previous match, and the pain proved too much. “I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had,” Djokovic said.
“Medications, and this strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today, but towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain, and it was too much to handle for me at the moment. So, yeah, unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
The rest is available here:
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Some pre-match reminiscing. The highlights of Sinner’s semi-final victory in Melbourne last year, when he defeated Djokovic in four sets:
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Some pre-match reading. Here’s Tim Joyce’s excellent piece about the evolution of Shelton:
When Taylor Fritz reached the final of the US Open four months ago, he became the first American man to play in a grand slam singles final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009. Finally, tennis fans in the United States had a reason to believe that the era of American men’s tennis futility was fading. And now, with Ben Shelton on the edge of a possible finals appearance at the Australian Open, it appears that, indeed, a group of American men’s players are set to make their mark (US women, it hardly needs to be said, have had no such problems making an impact at majors). If Shelton were to make the final it would be the first time since the 2005 Wimbledon (Roddick) and 2005 US Open (Andre Agassi) that American men have appeared in back-to-back grand slam finals.
This Australian Open has showcased the sudden depth and promise of a host of young Americans, including 19-year-old Learner Tien who defeated Daniil Medvedev on his way to the quarter-finals, and Alex Michelsen, 20, who also reached the fourth round after knocking off two top-20 seeds. They, along with veterans Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, comprise a coterie of American men’s players who are morphing into a cohesive, friendly group that are pushing each other to new heights.
Of course, for Shelton to reach Sunday’s final, there is that nagging detail, that one small matter, of having to overcome the ultimate challenge in present-day tennis – beating Jannik Sinner on a hard court. The overpowering, world No 1 has shown no signs of vulnerability so far in Melbourne this year, and it will take a high-risk, highly focused performance from the southpaw Shelton to pull off the upset. The pair have played five times, with Shelton winning their first encounter but Sinner has won the last four meetings and has taken nine straight sets off Shelton.
You can read the rest here:
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Updated at 03.16 EST
Sinner v Shelton coming up
Thanks Joey! G’day everyone and welcome to our coverage of the men’s semi-finals – part two. Which will hopefully be longer than part one …
Novak Djokovic’s fitness and bid for the ultimate piece of tennis history has rather dominated the chat in the men’s draw for the past few days, but after his retirement against Alexander Zverev ensured that he won’t be claiming grand slam No 25 on Sunday, Jannik Sinner now gets the chance to seize some of the narrative (though I’m sure the fallout from Djokovic being booed will carry on for a while yet).
Sinner, the defending champion and world No 1, is the strong favourite to see off the big-serving American Ben Shelton, who’s more often than not described as the big-serving American prodigy Ben Shelton, even though he’s only a year younger than Sinner. Both had breakout runs to a first slam semi-final in 2023 – but while Sinner then came of age last year, winning not only the Australian Open but also the US Open along with six other titles and rising to the top of the rankings, Shelton stalled, failing to get beyond the fourth round of a major. With his explosive personality and forehand almost as nuclear as his serve, it’s good to have the 22-year-old back in the mix.
This match offers up a compelling contrast between the right-handed Sinner and the southpaw Shelton, Sinner’s serenity and Shelton’s showmanship, and Sinner’s metronomically precise baseline game and Shelton’s high-octane style – though the world No 20 has deliberately reined things in a bit this fortnight.
“I don’t think I’ll be redlining,” Shelton says. “If anything, I’ve been, in terms of my baseline play, a bit more conservative this tournament, OK with going deep in rallies. Probably have to step that up a little bit in the semi-finals. I think that I’m figuring out ways to make guys uncomfortable without just playing at my upper limits and slapping.”
Slapping definitely isn’t the way to beat the world No 1 – Shelton needs to balance risk with reward and pick his moments to attack, while breaking Sinner’s baseline rhythm by coming to the net, where he’s very adept. As well as routinely sending down those serve bombs, of course. It’s still a tall, tall order though – especially when Sinner hasn’t been beaten on a hard court at a slam since 2023.
The players will be on court at: 7.30pm Melbourne time/8.30am GMT.
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Updated at 03.09 EST
That, though, is where I’ll leave you.
This afternoon hasn’t gone the way any of us would have predicted but it’s been a pleasure to have your company.
I’ve been Joey Lynch and I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Katy Murrells.
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Updated at 03.09 EST
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Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner will soon be making their way onto Rod Laver Arena, the American underdog seeking to add a new, remarkable chapter to his evolution. This from Tim Joyce is very good on the 21st seed.
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On Kia Arena, Xiaohui Li and Ziying Wang have taken out the opening set of their women’s wheelchair doubles final against Zhenzhen Zhu and Manami Tanaka, 6-2.
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Amanda Munns has written in, none too pleased with the Melbourne crowd’s treatment of Djokovic.
“What an ignorant and disrespectful action by members of the crowd at that match. I guarantee you they would never have done that if had been Roger or Rafa. They should not do it for anyone!
“I’ve been a tennis fan for over 50 years and it greatly saddens me to see how things have changed. Djokovic should be respected for what he has achieved and what an excellent ambassador he has been for the sport.”
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In case you missed it yesterday, the Australian Open women’s final will see Aryna Sabalenka look to defend her crown against Madison Keys.
In the first of the semifinals, Sabalenka defeated good friend Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2.
Next up, Keys rallied back from losing the opening set to defeat 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) Iga Świątek.
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Updated at 02.33 EST
For the sixth tournament running, British pair Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid have triumphed in the final of the men’s wheelchair doubles, downing Daniel Caverzaschi and Stephane Houdet 6-2 6-4.
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The women’s wheelchair doubles final has just started on the Kia Arena, Manami Tanaka and Zhenzhen Zhu taking on Xiaohui Li and Ziying Wang.
Alas for Tanaka, it appears that her advancement to the final will prevent her from attending Mamoru Miyano’s final show in Funabashi.
なお、全豪オープン決勝進出につき、
ワンチャンと思っていた宮野真守ライブツアーファイナルへの参戦は見送りとなりました。
皆さまアリーナ公演並びにららぽ巡回・ウルトラマンゼロショー等、わたくしの分までお楽しみください。
あ、あと千葉行く前にストロングポイントNEXT録画予約してね？！
— 田中 愛美🎾Manami TANAKA (@mnm_t28) January 23, 2025
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Given the boo-birds are probably going to become a talking point, the timing of this piece from Emma John is quite appropriate.
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The crowds at the Australian Open have become something of a talking point across this month, and John McEnroe, John Millman, and Jelena Dokic pulled no punches on the Channel Nine panel after Djokovic was booed off court after.
“He’s won this 10 times. I mean, come on. Clearly, something was up. The guy’s a battler. I mean, him and Rafa [Rafael Nadal] have dug deeper than any two players I’ve ever seen — mentally, physically, you name it. To do that, because he decided that he couldn’t go on after what he’s done here. I thought it was absolutely ludicrous. Honestly, that was depressing. That was almost as depressing to seeing the end of the match, honestly; to see him do that, him put his thumbs up and have [boos]. It’s too bad.
Millman well and truly had the boo-birds in the crowd in his sights, saying they crossed a line.
The crowds have been questioned a lot and rightly so. I think it’s a bit of a shambles. Some of the behavior has crossed the line and that one takes the cake for me. This is a guy that’s won it ten times. Have some respect. He’s one of the all time greats, if not the greatest to play it. He’s definitely the greatest to play on this court. I don’t care how much you’ve spent on your ticket. Have some respect.
Dokic, for her part, was clear in her view that Djokovic wouldn’t have pulled out unless he had to.
We’ve seen Djokovic in his career when he’s had injuries… he’s played through them, played through the tournament, gone on and hasn’t retired in matches.
Only a really heavy knee injury at the French Open took him out last year, where he could play the quarter-final. So if he decided that he couldn’t play, he really couldn’t play.
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Updated at 02.36 EST
Jack Snape was at Rod Laver Arena for the semi-final and has filed his immediate reactions.
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On the call for the match and taken aback as anyone by Djokovic’s retirement, John McEnroe gave his views that and Zverev’s progression on Channel Nine.
We were all wondering how he’s going to hold up after the match against Carlos [Alcaraz]. But I thought he actually was moving pretty well. Managing things. Clearly, Zverev was tight — trying to sort of get the nerves out. It was a very closely contested first set, hour and 20 minutes set. I was almost more shocked when he missed the volley. I’m like, no way he’s gonna miss that volley, right? Then he missed it. Next thing, the only guy in the stadium that was happy was Zverev! The look in [Zverev’s] eyes was like ‘What?’ We were all like ‘Oh my God!’
But I’ll tell you something, it brings me back, the first time I ever won a major, I got a couple of defaults. And I bet there’s no one here on this [panel] that would know that. You don’t know. In 10 years’ time, if Zverev wins this, no one is going to know or care that Novak didn’t play. He got through. It’s not his fault.
“But that’s a bummer. It was starting to get very interesting. Zverev’s had rollercoaster ride trying to get to win a major and he’s been so close. [He was] serving for the match when he played [Dominic] Thiem, he was up two sets of one against Carlos in the French [Open] [and] he ran out of gas. He figured out that he needed to be able to have more left in the legs to make it through. It looked as if he was… going out there [do] a war of attrition type thing [against Djokovic], like he’s going to break him down. Because he was very passive in my book, more passive than he should have been.
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We’ll continue to bring the fallout of Zverev moving into after Djokovic’s shock retirement but there is other tennis happening today beyond the men’s singles.
Today has also seen the women’s final locked in, the top seeded duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend bouncing back after dropping their opening set to defeat Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-3 in the first semi-final.
They will face the third-seeded team of Su-Wei Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko, who have just beaten second-seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-3 out on Margaret Court Arena.
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Updated at 01.25 EST
Djokovic has addressed media in the wake of his shock retirement.
“I didn’t hit a ball since the Carlos [Alcaraz] match, until like an hour before today’s match. I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear that I had. Medications, the strap and the physio work helped to some extent today.
But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle for me at the moment.
“So yeah, an unfortunate, ending, but I tried.
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To conclude, Courier asks Zverev for a preview of tonight’s semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton.
What’s going to happen? Ben is going to serve 240 km/h and Jannik is going to return like it’s coming at [him] like a butterfly. That’s what’s that’s probably going to happen.
But no, they’re both great players. Everybody who’s in the same final of a grand slam absolutely deserves to be there. There’s no easy draws. I have tremendous respect for both of those guys and I think it’s going to be entertaining match.
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Moving in from Djokovic’s exit, Courier asks Zverev about the improvements he has made to his serve in recent years that have allowed him to hit on ~70% his first serves while flirting with a 200 km/h delivery. He hit on 79% of his first serves today, winning the point on 77% of them while averaging 206 km/h.
Technique was the number one thing that I changed. It was actually with my brother more than anyone else, because my brother was never a master server. He was never a very big server but he was extremely good with his spots and he was extremely good at changing it up with a slice, with a top spin and all that.
What was happening is that I was tossing my ball so high up that I was waiting in that position for so long that I was losing momentum. I couldn’t accelerate any more after the ball was already dropping. So the number one thing that we changed over the past, I think four or five years, is lowering the toss so it’s a fluid motion.
So I actually hit the tennis ball at the highest spot that I can and not wait for it to go down. My serve, being on the second serve especially, went up quite a bit over the last few years.
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After the obvious discomfort he was in during his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic’s fitness had been the subject of significant conjecture heading into this semi-final and he took to the court with his thigh heavily strapped.
Nonetheless, Zverev said he hadn’t taken any kind of comfort knowing the ten-time champion may have been hobbled.
Not against Novak, to be honest. I played him here in 2021 when he had an abdominal tear and he served 28 aces against me. I have to play 100%.
I played probably one of my best sets of the tournament in the first set and I 7-5 in a tie break while he was injured. I don’t know, maybe I’m not that good. Maybe Novak is too good for the sport. I don’t know what to say.
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Zverev said he had little inkling that the retirement was coming.
No, I actually thought it was quite a high level first set. Of course, you know there are some difficulties, and the longer you continue playing, then maybe the worse it gets. In the tie break he was maybe not moving as well as in the entire first set. But I thought we had extremely long rallies, extremely difficult, physical rallies. In the tie break, I did see him struggle, maybe a bit more.
But still, of course, I’m happy on one side to be in the final Australian Open, I’m in the final of a grand slam.
But on the other hand, I am being 100% honest, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak. He’s been one of my closest friends on tour. Whenever I struggled, I could always text him, I could always call him, I could always ask him for advice. I was speaking to him for hours last year in Shanghai, when I was really struggling mentally a little bit after the US Open defeat in the quarter-finals. He’s always somebody that helped a lot.
I wanted it to be a tough five set match as well. But it is how it is. He’s won this tournament 10 times, and again, I have nothing but respect for him.
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Zverev begins his post-match interview by taking aim at the contingent of the crowd booing Djokovic after he was forced to retire.
The very first thing I want to say is, please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with 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.
Zverev on some of the crowd booing Djokovic after retiring from Australian Open
“Please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know everyone paid for tickets.. but Novak has given everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 24, 2025Share
Updated at 24.27 EST
While I go about transcribing what Zverev said, here’s the moment he moved into a first Australian Open final after Djokovic dropped the opening set in a tie break and indicated he could not continue.
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Updated at 24.21 EST
Needless to say, the crowd at Rod Laver Arena is somewhat dumbstruck by what has just happened – boos beginning to come down from the crowd as the reality of what has happened starts to dawn.
Jim Courier is heading out to speak to Zverev now, we’ll bring you what he had to say shortly…
Novak Djokovic walks off centre court after retiring from his semi-final with Alexander Zverev. Photograph: James Ross/AAPShare
Updated at 24.28 EST
Alexander Zverev defeats Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-5) Retired
It’s over! Djokovic sends the ball into the net to give up the mini-break and lose the first set in a tie break and immediately turnes to the chair umpire, indicating that he is can’t continue!
After losing that first set in 81 minutes, the injury that the Serb carried into this one was obviously going to be too much to carry and Zverev is into the Australian Open final!
Novak Djokovic has been forced to retire injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Edgar Su/ReutersShare
Updated at 24.13 EST
We’re going to a tiebreak in the first set of this men’s semi-final, Zverev producing some big serves and taking the game without dropping a point.
Alexander Zverev is stretched as the first set of his semi-final with Novak Djokovic goes to a tiebreaker. Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPAShare
Updated at 24.04 EST
Now over an hour into this one and we’re still waiting for our first break of the match, Djokovic dropping just the one point as his well-placed serving and baseline play produces a relatively straightforward hold and makes it 6-5.
Both John McEnroe and Jim Courier on the host broadcast are suggesting that the fitness concerns that Djokovic is carrying into this contest probably does give impressive physical specimen Zverev the advantage– especially if it goes as long as it’s looking it might –but that the German’s history of just being unable to find that ruthless edge in the crucial moments is giving them pause.
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Probably our most straightforward game yet, Zverev holding to love – finishing things off with his seventh ace of the game – as it moves to 5-5.
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Zverev just cannot break Djokovic, blowing his fifth opportunity to do so as the seventh seed forces a deuce and, eventually, takes the hold after firing down an ace.
His thigh heavily strapped, we saw our first Djokovic limp after Zverev forced the second deuce in that game and Jim Courier on the broadcast is musing that the German, displaying a level of unexpected restraint so far, is banking on dragging this one out in the hopes that his opponent’s body will break down. Mentally, however, these missed opportunities must be beginning to take a toll even if he’s in it for the long haul.
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Updated at 23.57 EST
We’re still on serve, as Zverev produces the hold to take it to 4-4. The German produces the first double fault of the game to fall into a 15-30 hole but he answers back with a 210 km/h ace to draw things level, before directing another 197 km/h ace right past Djokovic to set himself up to produce the hold.
Alexander Zverev strives to break a first set deadlock against Novak Djokovic in their semi-final. Photograph: Vincent Thian/APShare
Updated at 23.51 EST
Djokovic produces another hold to take the game to 4-3. After falling behind, back-to-back winners from Zverev take the game to deuce but he can’t lift an attempted return of a drop shot over the net in giving up the advantage, nor keep his attempted return of a subsequent powerful Djokovic serve inbound.
After a challenging start to this match, the Serb is starting to better zero in his first serve, hitting on 11 in a row to drag his rate up above 50%.
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Updated at 23.37 EST
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.
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Updated at 23.25 EST
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 the hold to go up 3-2.
Novak Djokovic rues another missed first serve in his semi-final showdown with Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Edgar Su/ReutersShare
Updated at 23.32 EST
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.
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Updated at 23.22 EST
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.
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Updated at 23.22 EST
A much less dramatic hold for Zverev, working his serve and baseline play to drop just a single point.
Alexander Zverev plays a backhand return to Novak Djokovic in the first set of their semi-final clash. Photograph: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/APShare
Updated at 23.22 EST
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.
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Updated at 23.22 EST
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.
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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.
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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.
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Djokovic and Zverev have made their way out onto Rod Laver, the tension rising even higher as play approaches.
The calm before the storm. Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev pose before their semi-final Photograph: Edgar Su/ReutersShare
Updated at 23.12 EST
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
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 11, 2021
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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.
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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.
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Updated at 22.35 EST
