Australian Open: Sinner vs. Djokovic – Live Updates and Alcaraz’s Victory

Australian Open Semi-Final: Sinner and Djokovic Battle for a Spot in the Final

The Rod Laver Arena is set for a thrilling showdown as Jannik Sinner takes on Novak Djokovic in the second Australian Open men’s semi-final. A place in the final against Carlos Alcaraz awaits the victor. You can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds (UK only) – tune in here!

Alcaraz Overcomes Zverev in a Gruelling Five-Set Match

Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz battled through a tough five-set match against Alexander Zverev, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5. Zverev, despite a valiant comeback from two sets down, ultimately fell short. He expressed pride in his fight but lamented missed opportunities, particularly in the second set. There was also some discussion surrounding Alcaraz taking a medical timeout for cramp, which Zverev noted isn’t classified as an injury under the rules.

Djokovic Acknowledges Sinner and Alcaraz’s Current Form

Novak Djokovic has acknowledged the impressive form of both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, stating they are currently better players than him and many others. However, he emphatically declared he will not surrender, vowing to fight until the very last point. “Are they [Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz] better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are,” Djokovic stated. “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.”

Live Updates: Sinner vs. Djokovic

Sinner to Serve First: Jannik Sinner won the coin toss and has chosen to serve first.
Early Break for Sinner: Sinner secured an early break in the second game, capitalizing on some unforced errors from Djokovic.
Djokovic Struggles Initially: Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash noted Djokovic had a slow start, but is now striking the ball well and hitting deep.
Sinner’s Ace Count Rising: Sinner is racking up the aces, currently with five to his name.

Match in Progress (Updates as of 4:20 PM EST)

Sinner 4-2 Djokovic: Djokovic pushes Sinner into his backhand corner, winning the point with a quick net approach. However, Sinner responds strongly, winning the next two points. Djokovic holds after a loose forehand from Sinner.

Sinner 4-1 Djokovic: Sinner holds serve with an ace, continuing to demonstrate strong serving performance.

Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne, commented on Djokovic’s early struggles, suggesting he may be slightly undercooked given his limited build-up to the tournament. He emphasized the need for Djokovic to quickly improve his game to remain competitive.

Stay tuned for further updates as this exciting semi-final unfolds!

Listen Live

Catch all the action live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds (UK only).