Australian Open 2020, Semifinal, Dominic Thiem vs Alexander Zverev, Highlights: Thiem wins in four sets to set up final vs Djokovic

Dominic Thiem wins 3-6, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6

Dominic Thiem is into the Australian Open final after beating Alexander Zverev in three hours and 42 minutes. He will face Novak Djokovic for the title. Austrian making his maiden Australian Open final appearance. 

Thiem wins the third set 7-6 (3)

Dominic Thiem saved two set points to prolong the third set and is rewarded for his persistence in the tiebreak. He wins the third 7-6 (3) and is now two sets to one up. The Austrian could well have won the third set with ease but for a miserable service game. Can Sascha come back from here?

Thiem* 3-6, 6-4, 3-3 Zverev (* denotes server)

Zverev has the chance to break back and Massu has his head in his hands. A double fault hands Zverev two break point chances. One saved with a big serve down the tee. Under such pressure and Thiem goes for the break. It hasn't worked for him tonight. And this time, somehow, it crosses the net but Zverev is unable to get it back. Zverev goes down the line and puts the pressure on Thiem's usually reliable backhand but the slice is into the net. A third break point chance. And yet another backhand slice hits the top of the net. BREAK BACK!

Thiem 3-6, 6-4, 2-1 *Zverev (* denotes server)

Looks like the gap has affected Zverev's concentration more. Flurry of errors and drop in quality suddenly hands Thiem three break point chances. Zverev with a powerful backhand cross court and Thiem is unable to keep it in play. A well angled serve follows to cut the chances once more. Thiem with a thundering backhand winner past Zverev at the net and he has the BREAK! 

Play halted

Alexander Zverev walks up to the chair umpire and complains about the baseline coming off? Is that it? It appears the lights behind the baseline have gone off. 

Thiem wins second set 6-4

Dominic Thiem levels the match at 6-4 with the solitary break of serve. He got pushed all the way while serving for the set but got there in the end. Both players have 14 winners each but the error count is heavier on Thiem's side (18 to 14). One set all!

Thiem 3-6, 4-3 *Zverev (* denotes server)

Thiem with a remarkable backhand down the line attempt with Zverev at the net. Sascha reaches out but is unable to get it over the net. 0-30 and Thiem has an opportunity. Zverev follows it up with perfect groundstrokes and gets the point on the second smash. Not easy that smash with the ball well in the air. Luck of the net from Thiem's backhand and it gives Dominic two break points. A really attacking point from Thiem to force Zverev into a tame backhand slider and then punches it into open court. Zverev tries to get it back but it was always going to be a herculean job. BREAK BACK!

Thiem* 3-6, 3-3 Zverev (* denotes server)

Zverev with incredible returns in the game. A crross court winner on the serve, Thiem errors bring up break point for the German. He picks up a drop shot with rather ease and smashes away the desperate lob. BREAK!

Thiem 3-6, 2-1 *Zverev (* denotes server)

After barely making a mistake on the serve throughout the opening set, Zverev makes two back-to-back double faults. A forehand missed presents Thiem with two break point chances. One saved with an ace. But on the second, Zverev sends the forehand into the net. BREAK! Couple of missed serves and Zverev threw the game away. 

Zverev wins the opening set 6-3

Alexander Zverev wins the first set 6-3 in 40 minutes. The duo traded early breaks but almost against the run of play, Zverev got the break again later. Thiem unable to course correct and has conceded the set. Credit to Sascha for taking the game away from Thiem. 

Thiem* 3-4 Zverev (* denotes server)

Dominic Thiem goes for a drop shot but there's plenty of air on it and placement is missing and Zverev moves forward to hit a top-spin heavy winner. A double fault later, two break points for Zverev. Incredible depth on the German's backhand and Thiem is unable to get his body out of the way enough to get the angles right on the forehand. It lands wide and Zverev has the BREAK!

Thiem 1-1 *Zverev (* denotes server)

BREAK BACK! A little glimpse into the way this match could go. Thiem mixing things up very well: blistering, thundering groundstrokes which catch the baseline and sliding backhands which force Zverev into generating all the pace. An attack vs defence. Three break points for Thiem now and he converts the second with tiny bit of luck. Zverev goes for the lob with Thiem at the net but gets the angle wrong and it lands wide. 

Thiem* 0-1 Zverev (* denotes server)

String of errors on both wings from Thiem to get the match going and immediately Zverev has three break points. One saved with a huge serve down the tee. Sascha with an error of his own, on the forehand, to bring it down to one break point. After a lengthy 16 shot rally, Thiem went for the line on the backhand and missed. BREAK! 

Ready, play!

Alexander Zverev chose to receive at the coin toss so Dominic Thiem gets the ball rolling in the second men's singles semi-final. PLAY!

Roof remains open

It is 34 degrees in Melbourne with humidity at 32% at the moment. The roof is open at the start. There's chance of rain later in the match so bold decision. The matches on outside courts were halted earlier due to the heat. So strange that they're starting with the roof open. But understandable given it is an outside tournament. 

Head-to-head

Thiem leads the career head-to-head 6-2 with the latest coming in the semi-finals at the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Their only prior outdoor hard meeting was in 2016 in Beijing where Zverev triumphed. But considering the heat conditions, there's a strong possibility of the match being played under the roof.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open! It is Day 12 and thanks to absurd scheduling by the organisers, we have just the one match to look forward to today. It also means one less day for these guys: Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev to recover before they face the energetic machinery that is Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday.