Novak Djokovic battles Alexander Zverev for place in Australian Open final – live

Djokovic holds! Novak Djokovic 6-5 Alexander Zverev*

Djokovic looks to be struggling when having to get low, as he nets on his backhand slice on the opening point. Zverev does not do enough with the drop shot and Djokovic finds the forehand pass.

Zverev spins a volley wide and then can’t return Djokovic’s precise first serve up the middle. 40-15. Zverev coughs up the error on the forehand side.

Djokovic has not been comfortable in this set but he is through to the tiebreak at least. Can Zverev join him?

* Novak Djokovic 5-5 Alexander Zverev

Zverev with the comfortable hold, after being able to move Djokovic from side to side. He then winces playing a drop shot into the net. Zverev slams an ace onto the middle service line.

We’ve been playing for over an hour. While there have been break points in this set, the tiebreak looks likely.

Djokovic holds! Novak Djokovic 5-4 Alexander Zverev*

Zverev approaches the net but Djokovic finds the backhand pass with a short, sharp bunt down the line. Djokovic looks uneasy on his leg as he nets on the forehand, with Zverev hanging on.

Excellent from Djokovic! He steps in and steers the forehand winner past Zverev, who was nowhere near. Ace out wide from Djokovic! He holds another long game while saving break point.

The German has had five break point chances but has hardly threatened on any of them. The 10-time champion looks a little vulnerable on that leg but Zverev, so far, has not been able to take advantage.

Novak Djokovic 4-4 Alexander Zverev*

Djokovic pushes the volley long and then crashes a forehand into the net, so he too will have to look at 15-30 on serve.

Suddenly Djokovic can’t get his first serve firing, but Zverev’s backhand coughs up another error on a big point, drifting long during the rally.

30-30, but this time Djokovic misses! His backhand misfires at the end of a 22-shot rally, squirming wide as he looked for the down the line shot.

Break point Zverev. But Djokovic stands firm. He does enough to push Zverev wide on his backhand, which drifts wide.

Zverev holds! *Novak Djokovic 4-4 Alexander Zverev

Zverev presents a chance to Djokovic as he makes a strange approach to the net, allowing his opponent an easy pass, before making his first double fault of the match.

It’s followed by two aces in a row to get from 15-30 to 40-30. Djokovic drifts the backhand long on the wide serve and Zverev levels at 4-4 as we approach the business end of the first set.

Djokovic holds! Novak Djokovic 4-3 Alexander Zverev*

Zverev looks frustrated again as a forehand drifts long on the return. Djokovic looked to have closed the net and taken the game with a deep volley into the corner, but Zverev strides up to it and finds the forehand pass crosscourt.

Djokovic comes into the net again but Zverev is once more able to find the pass, this time for a backhand winner! From 40-15 to deuce. Djokovic switches it up behind the drop shot and Zverev can’t get under the ball to lift it over the net.

Solid serve from Djokovic up the middle and Zverev can’t return. His serving level is getting back to its usual figures.

*Novak Djokovic 3-3 Alexander Zverev

Zverev covers the net behind his serve and then thumps his fourth and fifth aces of the match to earn himself a rapid hold. Back over to Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic 3-2 Alexander Zverev*

Djokovic finds a few first serves to get a much more comfortable hold. Djokovic has won seven of the first nine points on his first serve.

Zverev holds! *Novak Djokovic 2-2 Alexander Zverev

After all that, can Djokovic break Zverev at the first opportunity? The German makes back-to-back errors on the backhand side and faces 0-40.

Djokovic is just wide on the angled backhand, and then Zverev lands the ace out wide to save the second. How about the third?

Amazing defence from Djokovic to retrieve two smashes from Zverev after he took over the point, but the German finds his way through on the third, and gets back to deuce.

Ace! Game point Zverev. There’s a scramble at the net as Djokovic comes in and meets the Zverev pass, but the German has quick hands and Djokovic goes wide.

Djokovic can’t take his chances, either.

Djokovic holds! Novak Djokovic 2-1 Alexander Zverev*

Djokovic saves four break points to hold, in a 12-minute service game! But it would be more accurate to say that Zverev failed to break: it’s rather summed up by Zverev framing a forehand at the net, sending it deep into the stands.

Djokovic has made just four of his first 20 first serves through his first two games. But despite facing 20% serving and aving four break points, Zverev can’t take advantage. He made bad errors on forehand and backhand sides too on the big points.