Djokovic faces sternest test in Sinner semi-final

Novak Djokovic is aiming to win his 25th major title and claim sole ownership of the record for most Grand Slams singles trophies

Australian Open 2024

Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 14-28 January

Men’s singles semi-finals coverage: Live text commentary from 03:30 GMT on BBC Sport website and app, plus coverage on Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 08:00.

Novak Djokovic faces the sternest test of his Australian Open title defence when he meets Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday.

The world number one, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title and 11th triumph in Melbourne, has not lost a match at the tournament in more than six years.

But Sinner has won two of the pair’s past three meetings, beating the Serb twice in 12 days in November.

In the other semi-final, Daniil Medvedev takes on Alexander Zverev.

Live text commentary of both matches is available on the BBC Sport website and app from 03:30 GMT, with radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 08:00.

With his quarter-final victory over Taylor Fritz, Djokovic extended his remarkable Australian Open winning streak to 33 matches, equalling Monica Seles’ tournament record set in the 1990s.

It left the 36-year-old on track to achieve more history at his favourite Slam, where on 10 previous occasions he has never failed to win the title after reaching this stage.

“I didn’t know that I’m sharing this achievement, this record with Monica. It makes it even more special for me,” Djokovic said after overcoming 12th seed Fritz in four sets.

“I’m aware of the streak that I’m on and the amount of matches that I have won in my career on the Rod Laver Arena. I don’t want to let that go.

“The longer the streak goes, the more the confidence, also expectations, builds but also the willingness to really walk the extra mile. I just love playing in this court. It’s been ‘the’ court for me in my career.”

Can Sinner end Djokovic’s record run?

Jannik Sinner has matched his best Grand Slam result, which was reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year – where he lost to Djokovic

South Korea’s Chung Hyeon was the last player to celebrate victory over Djokovic at the Australian Open, when the Serb struggled with injury in a straight-set loss in 2018.

Since then he has lifted the trophy on all five of his appearances at Melbourne Park, having been unable to defend his title in 2022 after being deported from Australia following a row over his Covid-19 vaccination status.

But if anyone can deny him in 2024, Sinner is perhaps best-placed to do so.

The talented 22-year-old fourth seed recorded two confidence-boosting victories over Djokovic late last year, inflicting a first Davis Cup defeat in 12 years on the 37-time Slam finalist after both players won one meeting apiece at the ATP Finals.

While Djokovic is aiming to reach his fifth consecutive Grand Slam final, losing only the Wimbledon title-decider in 2023, Sinner is hoping to reach his first – an achievement which would make him the youngest player to reach the Australian Open men’s singles final since Djokovic in 2008.

“This is what I practise for, to play against the best players in the world,” Sinner said.

“Obviously, he has an incredible record here so for me it’s a pleasure to play against him, especially in the final stages of the tournament where things are a little bit more interesting.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s gonna be tough, this I know. I will control the controllable, which is giving 100%, having the right attitude, fighting for every ball, and then we will see the outcome.”

Medvedev and Zverev renew rivalry

Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev are set for their first meeting at a Grand Slam

Russian third seed Medvedev’s rivalry with Zverev was the focus of an entire episode in Netflix’s recently released Break Point documentary series – and their on-court reunion promises to be fiercely contested with a place in the Australian Open final on the line.

World number six Zverev criticised Medvedev’s behaviour following the Russian’s dramatic comeback win from two match points down in Monte Carlo last year, labelling his opponent “one of the most unfair players in the world” after he ran off court for a toilet break during a change of ends in the deciding set.

The German, 26, earned his biggest win at a Slam with an impressive four-set win over world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight to reach his second major semi-final since suffering a nasty ankle injury at the 2022 French Open – and first in Melbourne since 2020.

That run has been achieved during a fortnight in which it was announced Zverev will face a trial over domestic abuse allegations in May, having been accused of physically abusing his ex-girlfriend – charges he denies.

The rivalry with Medvedev, 27, has not been a happy one for Zverev in recent years. Former US Open champion Medvedev, who came through in five sets against ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz, has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including five of six in 2023, and leads the head-to-head 11-7.

“A lot of matches [against Medvedev] were extremely close. It came down to him being extremely confident last year, playing some of the best tennis of his life, and me coming back from injury and not having the confidence in deciding moments,” Zverev said.

“He’s obviously extremely difficult to play. No question about it. He’s one of the best players in the world right now. I’m extremely happy to be back where I am and winning these kind of matches, giving myself the chance again.”

Also on Friday, Britain’s Neal Skupski and American team-mate Desirae Krawczyk contest the mixed doubles final against Poland’s Jan Zielinski and Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei.

Top seeds Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid will aim to reach the final of the men’s wheelchair doubles when they play Japanese duo Daisuke Arai and Takashi Sanada.

Fellow Briton Andy Lapthorne and American team-mate David Wagner are in quad wheelchair doubles semi-final action against Australian Heath Davidson and Canada’s Robert Shaw.