Australian Open 2021 day nine: Djokovic faces Zverev after Williams beats Halep – live!

8.46am EST 08:46

Djokovic tells Jim Courier that given his injury he needs time to warm up, despite hitting for an hour before the match started – he’s never had an injury as bad as this during a slam. After the first-set breaker, he felt better, and says he thinks he had more aces, “a miracle” for him against someone like Zverev. He feels drained and congratulates Zverev for how well he played, saying they pushed each other to the limit. He goes on to note that he started every set badly apart from the second, allowing his opponent to swing through the ball, and smashing up his racket helped him.

He then thanks his physio’s “magic hands” and those of the ATP physios, won’t practise on his day off, and hopes for a similar result. He’s not very familiar with Karatsev, but knows he’s got a great backhand – “Russian school of tennis” – and feels sorry for Dimitrov, who he thought was playing well till he got injured. He points out how many players have been hurt, saying the need to quarantine is taking its toll, and can’t wait for that to no longer be necessary.

8.40am EST 08:40

That was an excellent performance from Djokovic who, as ever, was solid when he needed to be. Zverev played pretty well tonight, but when it came to it, he just didn’t have the consistency or the brilliance you need to beat a freak of nature of such pathological monomania.

Updated at 8.40am EST

8.36am EST 08:36

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 6-6 (7-6) Zverev A long rally ensues, backhand to backhand, first with top spin then with slice, until Djokovic nets. He’ll be naused because he’d removed the server’s advantage and didn’t go for a winner only to lose the point anyway … but have a look! He finds an unbelievable backhand cross-court – it’s such a nasty angle, flying low across the face of the net … and Zverev can only net. Match point Djokovic again, this time on his own serve.

The Norman Brooks Challenge Cup and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup are seen behind Djokovic as he closes in on victory. Photograph: Dave Hunt/EPA

Updated at 8.40am EST

8.34am EST 08:34

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 6-6 (6-5) Zverev Djokovic is back bouncing balls, which either tells you he’s thinking about things or that he’s back in his state of nature. This is so tight, and at 4-4 Zverev cleanses down an ace that ratchets up the pressure, all the more so when he lands a forehand on the line. But Djokovic, though he gasps, stays with it to win the point and will now serve to raise himself match point; his first effort goes into the net, but his second is an unreturnable beauty; match point.

8.30am EST 08:30

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 6-6 (3-3) Zverev Zverev opens with an ace but two quick points establish Djokovic into things. Generally in breakers, you favour the bigger server, except Djokovic is involved and in the context of this match I’m not even sure who that is. We get to 3-3, both men delivering beautifully, and in commentary they wonder if the key moment will come when Zverev misses a first go.

8.26am EST 08:26

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 6-6 Zverev A tennis coach mate messages to say Zverev must be the worst volleyer in the top 100, as he botches a simple one, then at 30-0 a phenomenal rally ends when, with its 25th shot, Djokovic stretches to the corner on the split for single-handed backhand that spins him fully around, yet somehow sends a winner that breaks the opposite sideline. He is rrrridiculous … but Zverev yanks him back from 40-0 to deuce and is two points away from a decider! Make that one! Zverev has been happy to rally from the back all match, and after a succession of balls to the Djokovic backhand, clouts an inside-outer of his own for a clean winner to the opposite side. So Djokovic summons an ace, then a service winner, before Zverev nets a backhand. He’s had so any chances to seal this set, but now needs to win the breaker to stay in the competition. Here we go!

8.18am EST 08:18

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 5-6 Zverev* Zverev has rebounded really well since being broken, and rushes through a second straight love hold. If Djokovic is to clinch the match ereannar, it’ll need to be by way of breaker.

8.14am EST 08:14

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 5-5 Zverev Oh! In at the net on 15-all, Djokovic skps into a large forehand, then somehow nets a simple volley! Zverev is two points from the set! So down comes an ace, obviously, then a smash into the corner … but Zverev makes deuce by sending a forehand out wide, then dunking the resultant floater. So down comes another ace, obviously – that’s 20-19 in Djokovic’s favour – make that 21-19! It’d mad to still be improving when you’re as good and as old as Djokovic is – I like to think he’s been watching James anderson bowl.

8.08am EST 08:08

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 4-5 Zverev* We’re into a fourth hour as Zverev rattles through a love hold – the first of the set, and a huge staging post for the German who needs to show himself that he can hang tough when the rhythm gets ruff and the DJ says I think you’ve had enough.

8.05am EST 08:05

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 4-4 Zverev At 30-15, Djokovic slices into the net and if I’m Zverev – I’m wearing a sleeveless top – I’m unloading the suitcase at whatever comes at me next. Instead, they go backhand slice to backhand slice, constructing the longest rally of the match … and Zverev takes it when Djokovic nets with a forehand. From 30-0 to break point! But Djokovic quickly restores the order of things, a huge forehand earning him deuce … only to go long with the same shot! But a terrific drop shot regains deuce, and as the rallies get longer it’s Zverev who looks wearier, slightly slow in picking up another drop, and a nails inside-out forehand secures a monumental hold. That was a really great game, but Djokovic just had that little bit more, as he almost always does.

7.56am EST 07:56

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 3-4 Zverev* And there’s one, except Djokovic somehow gets it back and wins the point … so Zverev retorts with a clean ace followed by a boomer out wide and a forehand to the opposite corner for 30-15. Djokovic, though, looks set to claim the next point when he advances to the net and prepares a forehand down the line … only to take his eye off the ball, which flies away off the edge of his frame; you don’t see that very often, and Zverev takes advantage to close out from there. He needed that.

7.52am EST 07:52

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 3-3 Zverev But who knows! Zverev takes Djokovic on from the back and induces the backhand error … so, er, well, um, Djokovic responds with aces 17 and 18. The quicker courts are working well for him in that aspect, but after a long rally he plants a forehand wide; Zverev still has a chance here. I typed that but I didn’t believe it, and another fine serve from Djokovic allows him the quick forehand clean-up, and a further step-in forehand levels the set. If Zverev can’t rediscover his first serve next up, he’s in a world of trouble.

7.46am EST 07:46

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 2-3 Zverev* Eesh, Djokovic somehow returns a punishing serve and makes 15-all, then Zverev responds with a double; we’ve seen this before, and a less venomous second serve allows Djokovic into the point, Zverev quickly going long on the forehand. I barely need to type the words, bit two break points to the good, Djokovic metronomically drops balls onto the baseline until Zverev can’t take any more. It seems fairly clear where this is going, as it always has.

7.42am EST 07:42

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 1-3 Zverev A double break would set the Pfizer among the anti-vax and Zverev earns himself two break points, both saved in short order. But then Djokovic goes long with a forehand … but then Djokovic clouts a forehand winner into to the corner, guides a volley safe, and rips a service winner. Zverev can hear him coming…

7.37am EST 07:37

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 0-3 Zverev* At 15-30, Djokovic arrives at a backhand in plenty of tie to find a winner, only to send his shot hurtling wide; this development delights him as much as you’d expect. But another double hands Djokovic break point … only for him to overhit a backhand when dealt a powderpuff second serve! So Zverev does likewise but then plays two good points before a monstrous serve out wide clinches the game. That’s a colossal hold for Zverev, who offered two breaking opportunities with double faults but saved both. It’s a strange match is this, neither player able to sustain their form and though you assume Djokovic will find a way to bring it home, if Zverev serves well from here on in, he’s struggling.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev hits a return against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 8.32am EST

7.30am EST 07:30

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 0-2 Zverev I should note, Zverev is wearing a sleeveless top which suggests iffy self-esteem. But he canes down a smash for 30-all from 30-0 and then defends brilliantly before spiriting a sensational backhand pass down the line when Djokovic comes in behind muck; break point Zverev. And he’s got it! A forehand to the corner is too good, and I do not know what to think! Djokovic goes to bash the ball at something or someone, then thinks better of it.

7.25am EST 07:25

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 0-1 Zverev* It’s hard to see Zverev coming back from that – he knows he’s unreliable under pressure, and he’s crumbled twice in this match alone. He holds easily, but getting between Djokovic and the finish line is like getting between a hippo and the water.

7.20am EST 07:20

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 6-4 Zverev Zverev makes 0-15 but a service winner wipes out his advantage and a forehand that drops long takes Djokovic two points away. An ace out wide follows – what a total monster – and another fine serve allows him to dictate a rally, finally ended by a poor forehand from Zverev that drops long. From 1-4 and 0-30, Djokovic won five straight games, and he is so so good … but that is so so so bad from Zverev, who had no business tossing the set in the way that he did.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic recovers from hitting a return against Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 7.24am EST

7.17am EST 07:17

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 5-4 Zverev* Er, maybe. Djokovic is quickly at 0-30, then a protracted rally sees Zverev yanked to the net to hit a winner … but he either hits at yerman, yerman anticipates where it’s going or both, and a stop-volley raises three break points. Djokovic only needs one, Zverev netting a backhand for no good reason and things have changed very quickly. In commentary, they note that when things went against Djokovic, he destroyed his racket whereas Zverev is nonplussed; and though what’s going on is more nuanced than that, one of these knows how to win and the other knows how to lose. Djokovic will now serve for the set.

7.12am EST 07:12

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 4-4 Zverev Djokovic is back in charge now, storming through a hold to 15. Has Zverev missed his chance?

7.09am EST 07:09

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 3-4 Zverev* Zverev clatters down another ace, but his first double of the match and a fine backhand cross-court help Djokovic to 30-40 and a second chance to break back. Zverev being Zverev, he chooses this moment to double-fault again, and we’re back on serve in set three.

7.04am EST 07:04

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 2-4 Zverev Djokovic asks for his racket mess to be cleared up; maybe he should do it himself. But a ball kid arrives with dustpan and brush – there’s no sitting down this time, I wonder why not – and Zverev quickly makes 0-30. The fluctuations in this match have been odd and we’ve yet to have both players playing well together, but Djokovic gathers himself and wins four straight points.

7.00am EST 07:00

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 1-4 Zverev* The players have to wait for new balls, so Djokovic sits himself down on the court like a petulant toddler … then wins the first point of the game. Of course he does. So Zverev responds with an ace. Of course he does. But Zverev then nets a backhand after Djokovic defends well to stay in it … before Djokovic goes long with a backhand. Zverev is stepping into the ball now, two crushing backhands into the same corner giving him game point … but then he goes long and we’re at deuce. This is a crucial passage coming up, and after Zverev opens the court with a serve out wide, he sends his clean-up backhand to the opposite corner … and needlessly long. No matter, a bousting second serve opens the angle for a forehand winner and when he makes advantage following a backhand error from Djokovic, ole Nole destroys his racket; that’ll teach it. An ace down the middle then secures the hold, and Zverev knows how important that is, hollering his approval.

6.52am EST 06:52

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 1-3 Zverev At 40-30, Djokovic tries a lazy drop and Zverev runs it down … but goes long. That puts Djokovic on the board in set three, but, he’s not playing as well as he was.

6.47am EST 06:47

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 0-3 Zverev* Victoria is out of lockdown tonight, so crowds can come back in tomorrow; I guess that’s good news, sort of, and there’s certainly good news for Zverev, who caps a love hold with an ace down the middle. This was not a momentum shift I foresaw.

6.45am EST 06:45

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 0-2 Zverev A long backhand from Djokovic offers Zverev an opening and two mass-murderous forehands, the second a wrong-footer, gives him 0-30. And have a look! At 15-30, a short ball sits up for punishment … and Djokovic whacks it long! An ace saves the first break point … but a double, his fourth of the match to Zverev’s none, hands the German the advantage! He did not have to work for that.

6.42am EST 06:42

Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 0-1 Zverev* Zverev had to extend himself unduly in winning that first set, and in so doing allowed Djokovic to find his range – an error for which he was punished in the second. Ultimately, his only hoping of pulling this off is to serve like God and his level returns here – he holds to 15, offering not a sniff.

6.35am EST 06:35

*Djokovic (6)6-7 6-2 Zverev Have a look! Djokovic plays a single-handed backhand and Zverev murders one of his own down the line for 0-30! But Djokovic isn’t fazed, his forehand dominating the next point, and when Zverev makes a backhand error, all Djokovic needs for the set is two aces, so that’s all he does. The cosmos is righting itself.

6.30am EST 06:30

Djokovic (6)6-7 5-2 Zverev* Zverev won’t be wanting Djokovic to serve first in set three so needs to hold here and does – as Barry Davies might say.