Novak Djokovic got through to his ninth Australian Open semifinal after beating Alexander Zverev 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in 3 hours and a half.
Zverev wasted a set point in the final stages of the fourth set. The German player won five points more than Djokovic and hit 15 winners to 11 unforced errors.
Zverev opened the first game with an early break, as Djokovic made a double fault, and held serve at love to open up a 2-0 lead. Djokovic saved a break point in the fifth game and held with a service winner to take a 2-1 lead. Zverev served well in the sixth and eighth games and wasted a set point on return in the ninth game when Djokovic forced an error.
Djokovic broke back to draw level to 5-5, as Zverev was serving for the set. Zverev sealed the tie-break 8-6 with a service winner.
Djokovic fired ten winners and made two unforced errors in the second set and dropped two points on his first serve. Djokovic earned an early break in the first game of the second set, when Zverev made a backhand error. Djokovic raced out to a 3-0 lead with a double break with a backhand down the line winner. The world number 1 player held his next service games and closed out the second set 6-2 with an ace.
Zverev won 13 of the first 16 points in the third set to open up a 3-0 with an early break in the second game after a double fault from Djokovic.
Djokovic wasted a break point in the fifth game when Zverev hit a forehand winner. Djokovic won 20 of the final 26 points to win five consecutive games. Zverev made a double fault in the seventh game to drop his serve. Djokovic held serve at 15 to close out the third set 6-4.
Zverev raced out to a 3-0 lead at the start of the fourth set with a break in the second game. Djokovic got the break back in the fifth game to draw level to 3-3.
Djokovic fended off two break points at 3-5 before Zverev held serve at love to take a 5-4 lead. Djokovic hit an ace to hold serve in the 10th game at deuce to draw level to 5-5. Zverev hit a service winner to win the 11th game at love and earned a set point with a backhand down the line, but Djokovic saved it with an ace and held serve to force the set to the tie-break, when Zverev netted a backhand. Zverev took a 5-4 lead with an ace in the tie-break. Djokovic won two points on serve to earn a match point. Zverev saved it to draw level to 6-6. Djokovic earned a mini-break on the 13th point and closed out the match with an ace after 3 hours and 30 minutes to set up a semifinal against Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2.
Djokovic said in the on court interview that it was difficult to deal with the injury.
“I have been doing various things to try to put myself in a condition to play. I have not practicing in the days off. I am going to keep doing the same and hopefully the result will be the same like it was today. I have not seen Karatsev play prior to the Australian Open, but I am impressed by his performances. He serves well. He is motivated and has nothing to lose”, said Djokovic.
