A sumptuous backhand pass down the line from Sinner gives him 15-30, before Djokovic nets a limp forehand.

First break point for the Italian - and he takes it! Djokovic hits a forehand long, under no pressure, and it’s first blood to Sinner!

Not a good start from the 10-time champion....

Sinner storms his way to 40-0 with some powerful first serves but then hits a backhand long.

No dramas though, as another big serve out wide is too much for Djokovic, who can only net.

A smooth, simple hold for the Italian first up.

So, after the first semi-final epic, will we have another one here?

Defending champion Sinner will start us out on serve...

This rivalry has completely flipped since Sinner saved match points to beat Djokovic in the 2023 Davis Cup semi-finals. Since then, Sinner has won five tour-level matches in a row, as well as two exhibitions, to lead the official head-to-head 6-4. That includes three wins in a row in grand slams semi-finals, from the Australian Open, to Roland Garros, to Wimbledon.

2025: Wimbledon, semi-final, outdoor grass - Sinner wins 6-3 6-3 6-4

2025: French Open, semi-final, outdoor clay - Sinner wins 6-4 7-5 7-6(3)

2024: Shanghai Masters, final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins 7-6(4) 6-3

2024: Australian Open, semi-final, outdoor hard - Sinner wins 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3

2023: Davis Cup Finals, semi-final, indoor hard - Sinner wins 6-2 2-6 7-5

2023: ATP Finals, final, indoor hard - Djokovic wins 6-3 6-3

2023: ATP Finals, round robin, indoor hard - Sinner wins 7-5 6-7(5) 7-6(2)

2023: Wimbledon, semi-final, outdoor grass - Djokovic wins 6-3 6-4 7-6(4)

2022: Wimbledon, quarter-final, outdoor grass - Djokovic wins 5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

2021: Monte Carlo, round of 32, outdoor clay - Djokovic wins 6-4 6-2

Here we go again!

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner enter the stage - the third Grand Slam semi-final they’ve played in in eight months!

Djokovic has not won a set in the past two - what about today?

“The level he's still playing, he is I think the most professional athlete we have here in the locker room.

“I also try to be as professional as possible. He has a huge package of experience with himself. You see him on the court. He knows how to handle every situation the best possible way.

“Me, as a 24-year-old, I'm lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes, and I can hopefully learn something. I feel like every day, every time he plays, I can learn something about him, about Carlos, about all the other great, great players.

“I take this as a positive. I think the way he's playing, the way he's moving, if you are not professional, you don't play at this level. He's an inspiration for all of us and especially the young players.”

“I lost to him I think four or five in a row, so he's just playing on such a high level right now, along with Carlos. They're the two best players in the world.

“I mean, [he is the] absolute favourite, but you never know. Hopefully I can deliver my A-game for that matchup, because that's what's going to be needed at least to have a chance. I wasn't playing close to my best today, so I'm going to have to change that around.

“Are they [Sinner and Alcaraz] better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. I mean, the quality and the level is amazing. It's great. It's phenomenal.

“But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. I'm going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.”

Carlos Alcaraz proved why he is the five-set king of tennis as the world No 1 won a record Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev to keep his career grand slam bid alive in five hours and 27 minutes.

”Believing, all the time,” Alcaraz said after advancing to Sunday’s final, where he will face either Sinner or Novak Djokovic. “I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what. No matter what you're struggling with , what you've been through, no matter anything. You still believe in yourself all the time.”

The Italian fifth seed, 23, raced into a 6-4 6-3 lead, playing brilliant tennis, but began to struggle after noticing pain in his leg at the beginning of the second set. The issue became worse at the start of the third, leaving Musetti unable to run, and he retired while 3-1 down.

“I don't know what to say except I feel really sorry for him and he was a far better player,” Djokovic said. “I was on my way home tonight. Being in quarters of a grand slam, two sets to love up and being in full control, so unfortunate. He should have been a winner today, there's no doubt.”

Jannik Sinner returned to the Australian Open semi-finals with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Ben Shelton, his ninth consecutive win over the American. “Today I felt like I was moving again a little bit better. I feel stronger physically again,” Sinner said.

It looks like we could be here for a while. There are huge queues to get into Rod Laver Arena. It’s just ticked past 9pm local time.