Australian Open Live, Men's Singles semi-final: Novak Djokovic one game away from winning 2nd set

That break meant more than just a lead on the scoreboard. With his first break of the match, Novak Djokovic snapped Jannik Sinner’s astonishing streak of 38 consecutive service holds, a run that underlined just how untouchable the Italian had been.

It was a rare crack in Sinner’s armour — and Djokovic pounced.

Sinner has responded by holding serve to steady himself, but Djokovic still leads 4-2 in the second set, firmly in control for now.

Novak Djokovic has drawn first blood in the second set, breaking Jannik Sinner to surge into a 3-1 lead.

It’s a rare moment of authority from the Serb, made even more striking by the numbers — Djokovic has now broken Sinner’s serve just three times in 60 attempts, a stark reminder of how dominant Sinner has been on serve over the years.

But if anyone knows how to seize a narrow opening and turn the tide, it’s Djokovic, and this break could be the spark he desperately needed to shift the momentum.

Novak Djokovic has drawn first blood in the second set, breaking Jannik Sinner to surge into a 3-1 lead.

It’s a rare moment of authority from the Serb, made even more striking by the numbers — Djokovic has now broken Sinner’s serve just three times in 60 attempts, a stark reminder of how dominant Sinner has been on serve over the years.

But if anyone knows how to seize a narrow opening and turn the tide, it’s Djokovic, and this break could be the spark he desperately needed to shift the momentum.

That’s a staggering stat and it tells its own story. Jannik Sinner has now beaten Novak Djokovic in 10 consecutive sets, underlining just how emphatically he has dominated this rivalry in recent times.

Against a player who has made a career out of bending opponents to his will, Sinner has flipped the script — controlling rallies, serving with authority, and refusing to give Djokovic any breathing room.

Oh, that was pure Novak Djokovic magic. An outrageous point built on range, disguise, and a feathered drop shot that left Jannik Sinner scrambling — and the Rod Laver Arena buzzing. That’s vintage Djokovic, the chessboard opening up in his mind as he pulls every string.

If Djokovic is to turn this match around, this is the template. He needs more of these points — variation, patience, and sudden changes of pace — to wrest control from Sinner and start dictating terms in the second set.

Jannik Sinner strikes first at Rod Laver Arena, sealing the opening set 6-3 in 38 minutes with an emphatic statement. The Italian was ruthless, closing it out by holding Novak Djokovic to love, underlining just how firmly he had his grip on the contest.

Sinner was in full flow throughout the set, hammering 15 winners and firing down six aces, his serve doing serious damage. Djokovic did show signs of life late in the set, tightening up his first-serve percentage in his final service game, but by then the gap had already been created.

Is Novak Djokovic finally finding his rhythm? That was a commanding service game from the Serbian, holding Jannik Sinner to love and drawing a roar of approval from Rod Laver Arena. For the first time tonight, Djokovic looked settled, assertive, and in control.

But the equation is simple and brutal — Djokovic needs a break right now to stay alive in this opening set. Sinner still holds the advantage, and there’s no margin for error.

Jannik Sinner is turning the screw on Rod Laver Arena. The Italian has raced to a 5-2 lead and is now one game away from sealing the opening set. The first serve has been the clear separator — Sinner is landing them with authority and making Djokovic pay.

Already 12 winners off the racket, Sinner has kept relentless pressure on the 10-time champion, forcing Djokovic to defend from deep and scramble for answers. Right now, the momentum is firmly with the Italian as the set edges toward its conclusion.

Jannik Sinner is in complete command on Rod Laver Arena. The Italian has surged to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, winning a staggering 82 per cent of points on his first serve. Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, is lagging behind at 67 per cent, and the difference is telling.

Sinner’s serve is laced with venom — four aces already — and Djokovic is finding himself under constant pressure. Right now, the Italian is dictating the tempo, while the 10-time champion is still searching for his rhythm.

Novak Djokovic is finally on the board against Jannik Sinner — but not without a scare. Staring down a break point at 30-40, the Serb was forced to dig deep early. Under pressure, he steadied himself, found his range just in time, and clawed his way out of danger to hold serve.

The fans, in the meantime, have clearly sensed that Novak Djokovic looks undercooked in the early exchanges, and the scoreboard reflects it — 0–3 down in the opening set. It’s a startling sight on Rod Laver Arena, with unforced errors creeping in and Jannik Sinner striking with authority.

But this is Novak Djokovic we’re talking about. Counting him out at this stage would be reckless.

Early signs here are worrying for Novak Djokovic. He has looked unusually off-colour in the opening two games, already surrendering his serve as Jannik Sinner pounces on the slightest opening. The Serb has sprayed five forehand errors in no time, a rare sight on Rod Laver Arena, and his timing seems just a fraction out.

Sinner, sensing vulnerability, has started sharply and is dictating play, stepping inside the baseline and forcing Djokovic into uncomfortable positions. Djokovic is under immediate pressure.

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner stride out onto Rod Laver Arena to a wall of noise, the crowd fully aware that they are about to witness something special. The first semi-final delivered an unforgettable thriller, and with that still fresh in the memory, expectations for this clash are sky-high. The lights are on, the tension is thick, and Melbourne is buzzing with anticipation.

It’s 9:15 PM local time, but no one here is thinking about the clock. With two of the best in the world on court, this one has all the ingredients to stretch deep into the night, maybe even past midnight. Djokovic, the master of Melbourne with ten Australian Open titles, carries his familiar aura of dominance, while Sinner walks in with quiet confidence, knowing he has challenged — and beaten — the Serbian earlier.

There is no two ways about it that Novak Djokovic was very lucky to win against Musetti in the quarter-final.

Djokovic was down and out but an unfortunate injury forced him to give a walkover.

After the QFs, Djokovic was asked in the press conference if he was chasing Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who were at the top of their careers.

This question pissed off Djokovic, who had a fiery reply to give to the journalist.

Djokovic is expected to bring the same fire today.;

Carlos Alcaraz spoke to Jim Courier post match

On the match:

"Believing. Believing all the time," Alcaraz said.

"I always said that you have to believe in yourself no matter the struggles you go through. You have to believe in yourself. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches I've played in my short career.

"But I've been in these kinds of situations, these kinds of matches before. I had to put my heart into the match. I fought until the last ball."

On chasing taking the career Grand Slam on Sunday:

"Thank you for putting so much pressure on me right now. I'm kidding. I'm really happy to play my first final in Melbourne. It's something I was pursuing a lot," Alcaraz said.

"It's been a great two weeks so far. My level is improving a lot. I couldn't stay here right now, doing this interview [as the winner] without you guys. It was a real pleasure playing in front of all of you. The way you pushed me through every time, every ball was amazing.

"My head is about recovering, so I'm in good shape for you guys. See you on Sunday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a self-confessed tennis tragic, was glued to the action as Carlos Alcaraz sealed his win on Wednesday evening. It capped a long day for Albanese, who earlier announced a rescue package for bushfire-hit communities in Victoria. Our mastheads have previously written about his love for the sport, and he has become a familiar presence in the VIP seats at major tournaments in recent years.

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