Saved with an ace. Deuce.

Novak Djokovic takes umbrage with JJ's critique, responding with a forehand winner for 15-0. However, he follows it up with another loose forehand. Hmmm. Not quite cooking yet.

The point exchange continues, Sinner producing a delicate backhand drop shot from the back of the court for 30-all, before Djokovic mucks up another forehand to gift the Italian a break point.

Uh oh.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Going into this match we wondered if Djokovic might be undercooked given his sparse build-up.

The four forehands which he missed as Sinner broke in the second game - and missed by some margin - indicated he's not up to speed.

That must change quickly if he is going to make a match of this.

Jannik Sinner consolidates the break with another hold to 15.

He's enjoying early success with his wide serve, adding another two aces to his tally. He's yet to miss a first serve.

Image source, Getty Images

Jannik Sinner has two break points but only needs one as Novak Djokovic sends a forehand long.

That's a lovely shot from Jannik Sinner! He scrambles to his backhand side to return a serve and then slides across the baseline to peel off the backhand pass for 15-30.

Novak Djokovic nets a forehand. Two early break points for Sinner.

A routine hold to 15 for Jannik Sinner to start this second semi-final.

A long backhand at 40-0 is the only blot.

He nailed all five first serves - three weren't returned into the court by Novak Djokovic and the Italian also pinged an ace down the T.

*denotes next server

Jannik Sinner won the coin toss and elected to serve first.

Off we go.

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You can listen to live commentary of Jannik Sinner versus Novak Djokovic in the second Australian Open men's semi-finals on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds (UK only).

Click on the play icon at the top of this page to tune in.

Gigi Salmon
BBC Sport tennis commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

This is the 11th meeting between these two and the sixth at Grand Slam level.

Sinner has won the last five but Djokovic is in his 54th Grand Slam final - and his 13th in Melbourne.

Right. Here they are.

Several hours after they thought they'd be on court, it's time for Jannik Sinner versus Novak Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena.

A spot in the final against Carlos Alcaraz is up for grabs.

Let's have a little vote, shall we? Thumbs up for a Sinner win, thumbs down for Djokovic.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Alexander Zverev has just been into the main interview room - he wasn't as crushed as I expected him to be actually.

"This is life and we move on," said Zverev, who groaned uncomfortably as he took his seat following the brutal five-hour contest.

Suppose when you've had three rough Grand Slam final defeats then a semi-final loss from two-love down isn't so bad.

The 28-year-old German spoke about his pride at fighting back from the brink of a straight-set defeat, although rued not taking his chances to win the second set.

Zverev also didn't want to dwell on a cramping Alcaraz taking a medical time-out - which is against the rules seeing as cramp isn't classed as an injury.

"That doesn’t deserve to be the topic right now," added the third seed.

Image source, Getty Images

Novak Djokovic said he will not surrender against Jannik Sinner despite being the underdog heading into their semi-final.

The Serb is two wins away from winning a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title and a record-extending 11th Australian Open singles crown.

However, he has lost his past five meetings with the Italian second seed, including three Grand Slam semi-finals, and hasn't reached a final in his past five majors. He is currently on a run of four consecutive semi-final exits.

"Are they [Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz] better right now than me and all the other guys,? Yes, they are," said Djokovic. "The quality and the level is amazing, it's great, it's phenomenal.

"But does that mean I walk out with the white flag? No, I'm going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them."

Image source, Getty Images

Jannik Sinner loves playing in Australia.

The Italian second seed has won back-to-back titles in Melbourne and is on a 19-match winning streak at the tournament.

The last player to beat him at the Australian Open was Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round in 2023.

He's only dropped one set - against Eliot Spizzirri in round three - since beating Alexander Zverev in the Vienna Open final in October.

Sinner, 24, is aiming to become the first player since Novak Djokovic (2019-21 and 2011-13) to win three consecutive men's singles titles at the Australian Open.

Quite different vibes from Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the camera picks them out in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner is strolling around with a tennis ball in his hand.

Djokovic, earphones in, was last seen bounding from side to side with a medicine ball.

Two former champions coming up on Rod Laver Arena...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

It is very hard to finish off an injured player. I couldn't finish off Stefan Edberg here when he pulled a stomach muscle.

You don't want to change your game, start doing drop shots if it's not your natural game. Then the mind games come in; what should I be doing? Should I be running him or not?

Zverev is going to walk off and think 'I couldn't beat a guy who was on one leg for two sets' - that is going to be highly damaging to him.

He didn't play badly, he is just not good enough.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That was absolutely breathtaking, what a dramatic match.

What an incredible contest, this is what Grand Slam action is all about.

It took us on so many twists and turns. A physical, mental and brutal match.

Alcaraz is a deserved winner - I don't know how he found enough energy to pull through.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Image source, Getty Images

Woahhh, we're halfway there - don't forget there is another match to come.

Alcaraz has lived on a prayer today and so has Novak Djokovic over the past week.

A walkover and a retirement has helped Djokovic into the last four, enabling thousands of Melbourne's vast Serb community to turn up again tonight and support him.

It's rammed out in the grounds.

Ticketholders for tonight's showdown between Djokovic and Sinner are still waiting patiently outside Rod Laver Arena for the day crowd to be kicked out before they can go in.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have a tough act to follow, don’t they?

Neither player will want to be involved in that level of drama with a spot in Sunday’s final against Carlos Alcaraz on the line.

The form book suggests another five-set marathon isn't on the cards - Sinner has won their past three meetings in straight sets, including semi-final wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2025 - but you would have been hard pressed to predict the blockbuster we've just seen with Alexander Zverev trailing by two sets.

Stick around. The second men's semi-final is coming up.