It’s the blockbuster semi-final of the Australian Open – Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev at Rod Laver Arena on a Friday afternoon.
Djokovic was incredible in his dismissal of Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals and he will be eyeing an 11th title at Melbourne Park.
Zverev will be keen to banish the memories of his AO semi-final in 2024, where he lost against Daniil Medvedev after being up two-sets-to-love.
The Sporting News is following Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev live, providing score updates and commentary as it happens.
MORE: Australian Open semi-final predictions, betting tips, odds including Djokovic vs. Zverev, Sinner vs. Shelton
Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev live score – Australian Open semi final
*Denotes server
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | |
[7] Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 6(1) | – | – |
[2] Alexander Zverev (GER)* | 6(1) | – | – |
Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev updates, highlights and commentary
*Denotes server
Djokovic 6-6 Zverev (tiebreak)
- *1-0: Unreturned serve. Djokovic takes lead.
- 1-1*: Zverev hits the backhand volley winner at the net.
Djokovic 6-6 Zverev*
- 15-0: Zverev barely catches the line and Novak hits wide.
- 30-0: Zverev hits a winner, catching the back of the line. Boy, that was close.
- 40-0: The German hits the pass straight at Djokovic but the Serbian can’t get it back.
- Game AZ: Tiebreak here we come.
*Djokovic 6-5 Zverev
- 0-15: Djokovic slices and comes toward the net but the shot is into the net.
- 15-15: Ill-timed drop shot from the German and Djokovic hits the easy pass.
- 30-15: Zverev has Djokovic pinned back but he attacks the wrong wing and then misses the volley.
- 40-15: Unreturned serve.
- Game ND: Zverev hits well long and we look destined for a tiebreaker here.
Djokovic 5-5 Zverev*
- 15-0: Djokovic bunts his return beyond the baseline.
- 30-0: Repeat the dose again.
- 40-0: Djokovic tries the drop shot but it comes up well short.
- Game AZ: Unreturned serve gets the quick hold.
*Djokovic 5-4 Zverev
- 0-15: Serve and volley from Djokovic, but he hits long. He looks like he is trying to shorten points.
- 15-15: Ace for the 10-time champion.
- 15-30: Zverev’s shot lands on the baseline and Novak makes the unforced error.
- 30-30: Chance for Zverev but he hits long. Lets Djokovic off the hook.
- 30-40: Break point for Zverev as Novak hits a backhand wide.
- 40-40: Long rally but Zverev again misses his opportunity as he hits long.
- Adv ND: Novak brings Zverev in and then hits the backhand pass.
- 40-40: Djokovic nets this time. This game could decide the set.
- Adv ND: Excellent forehand winner from Djokovic. He just always seems to life when in trouble.
- Game ND: Ace for Novak seals the hold.
Djokovic 4-4 Zverev*
- 15-0: Djokovic hits long in the rally. Unforced error.
- 15-15: Novak comes in and flicks the winner past Zverev.
- 15-30: Djokovic has an opportunity after getting the point.
- 30-30: Huge ace from Zverev relieves some pressure.
- 40-30: Zverev gets a unreturned serve.
- Game AZ: Djokovic hits the return too deep.
*Djokovic 4-3 Zverev
- 15-0: Djokovic goes deep into Zverev’s forehand corner and the German can’t get it back.
- 15-15: Aggressive rally. Djokovic hits wide. Match is evenly poised.
- 30-15: Zverev nets the return.
- 30-30: The German keeps the pressure on.
- 40-30: Zverev whips an aggressive pass that lands just on the line.
- 40-40: Another pass from Zverev. Novak is coming in quite a bit.
- Adv ND: Another drop shot. Zverev can’t get it back.
- Game ND: Huge serve from Djokovic and Zverev can’t get it back.
Djokovic 3-3 Zverev*
- 0-15: Zverev hits wide.
- 15-15: The German comes to the net and makes the volley winner.
- 30-15: Another volley winner from Zverev.
- 40-15: Ace down the T from the second seed.
- Game AZ: Another ace seals the easy hold.
*Djokovic 3-2 Zverev
- 15-0: Unreturned serve.
- 30-0: Zverev nets.
- 30-15: Djokovic’s drop shot comes up short. Interesting shot selection.
- 40-15: Another unreturned serve.
- Game ND: Easy hold for Novak as Zverev hits long.
Djokovic 2-2 Zverev*
- 0-15: Zverev misses the easy volley after coming to the net.
- 0-30: Djokovic makes his move. Zverev hits a backhand wide.
- 0-40: Zverev hits a shot long and it’s three break points to Novak.
- 15-40: Novak drives a shot wide. One saved.
- 30-40: Ace down the T. Two saved.
- 40-40: Zverev needs three smashes but he saves all the break points. Great fightback.
- Adv AZ: An ace out wide sets up game point.
- Game AZ: Djokovic volleys just wide in the net exchange. Zverev hold
*Djokovic 2-1 Zverev
- 0-15: Long rally but Djokovic nets. Zverev wins first point again on Novak’s serve.
- 0-30: Zverev attacks the second serve and hits a return winner.
- 15-30: Brilliant serve out wide from Novak. Zverev nets.
- 30-30: Ace down the T. The champion serves his way out of trouble. How many times have we seen that before?
- 30-40: Djokovic nets and it’s the first break point of the match – to the second seed.
- 40-40: Zverev drives an unforced error into the net. Wasted chance.
- Adv AZ: Djokovic hits long and it’s a second break point.
- 40-40: Same result as the first. Meek unforced error into the net from Zverev.
- Adv AZ: Zverev goes after the second serve with a laser backhand. He follows it up with a winner. A third break point.
- 40-40: Djokovic sets up the point with the wide serve and this time the German is forced to make an error.
- Adv AZ: Zverev comes in and makes a magnificent touch volley. Fourth break point.
- 40-40: A fourth saved as Zverev frames the ball long.
- Adv ND: First game point for Novak. Zverev hits wide.
- Game ND: Djokovic brings Zverev in to the net and the German frames a ball long. Four break points come and go.
Djokovic 1-1 Zverev*
- 15-0: Djokovic narrowly misses the backhand winner down the line.
- 15-15: Excellent return from Novak. He forces Zverev to net on the back foot.
- 30-15: Ace out wide.
- 40-15: The German attacks Djokovic and hits a forehand winner. His best point of the match so far.
- Game AZ: Djokovic returns the serve long off the frame. Zverev holds
*Djokovic 1-0 Zverev
- 0-15: Zverev starts with a nice backhand winner.
- 15-15: Long rally. Zverev blinks first by clipping a backhand wide. Could be plenty of long rallies in this match.
- 30-15: Djokovic moves Zverev around then hits a forehand winner. The Serbian looks like he is moving well.
- 40-15: Zverev can’t return the serve back into play.
- 40-30: Unforced error long forehand from Novak.
- Game ND: Incredible point. Zverev got the net cord, Djokovic got there and eventually won the point. Hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.
Start – Djokovic to serve
2:40pm: The coin toss has happened and the players are warming up. We are minutes away.
2:37pm: Zverev has entered Rod Laver Arena and is now followed by Djokovic. We are on here.
2:30pm: Only minutes away from the players entering Rod Laver Arena. Crowd is building here.
2:15pm: This is Zverev’s third semi-final at the Australian Open, having never progressed to the final. In 2020, he lost in four sets to Dominic Thiem, while last year he was two-sets-to-love up on Daniil Medvedev before going down in five.
2:00pm: There has been rumours that Djokovic has struggled to train over the past couple of days. But we have all heard stories of Novak’s injury demise and then he has gone on to win majors before.
1:45pm: Djokovic has won eight of the 12 matches against Zverev, with all but two of them coming on hard courts.
1:30pm: This contest will definitely begin shortly after 2:30pm local time. There will be no delays for the start time.
1:15pm: What a match today is going to be. It will be only the second match between the two since 2021 in a weird draw anomaly.
1:00pm (local time): Welcome to Rod Laver Arena for today’s blockbuster semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev prediction
Can you ever write off Djokovic?
The 10-time AO champion looked dead and buried after losing the first set against Alcaraz and appearing to be injured.
But Djokovic fought back to play some of the best tennis we have seen from in years to thrash the Spanish youngster in four sets.
If he brings the same level, it’s going to be hard for Zverev to win the match.
Zverev had a strange quarter-final against Tommy Paul – he could have easily lost the first two sets as the American served for both.
But the world no.2 got the job done in four sets, blitzing Paul in the fourth set.
However, he will need to be at the top of his game to beat Djokovic and reach a third grand slam final.
There also might be mental demons for Zverev, who lost last year’s semi at Melbourne Park after being two-sets-to-love up against Daniil Medvedev.
Intriguingly, the pair have only met once since 2021, with Djokovic winning in straight sets at the Cincinnati Masters on hardcourt in 2023.
Prediction: Djokovic in four sets.
Just like the previous match, can you ever back against Djokovic in Australia?
Zverev is playing some reasonable tennis but he will have to raise his game way beyond the levels he has shown recently.
Djokovic should win through to have a chance at an 11th Australian Open title.
How to watch the Australian Open: TV channel, free-to-air guide in Australia
The Nine Network remains the free-to-air broadcaster of the Australian Open for 2025.
Games are shown across the various channels in Nine’s portfolio – Channel 9, 9Gem and 9Go!.
Matches involving Australians or notable players are typically prioritised on free-to-air.
Consult your local TV guide for the latest schedule.
Australian Open live stream: How to watch online in Australia
Fans can stream this year’s Australian Open via subscription service Stan Sport, where every match is streamed live, ad-free and available on-demand.
Notably, games played on Rod Laver Arena are available in 4K.
On top of this, Stan Sport exclusively host ‘Grand Slam Daily’ – a highlights and talking points show airing at 7:00 am AEDT each day.
Watch every match of the Australian Open ad-free with centre court in 4K on Stan Sport
9Now also offer free online streaming of Nine’s broadcasts across Channel 9, 9Gem and 9Go, as well as access to non-broadcast games.