Novak Djokovic misses training amid injury concerns ahead of Australian Open semi-final – live

“In 2023 I had a similar injury and carried it from the start of the tournament, I had to go for my shots more and sometimes it helps. We are so nervous on the court, we are going through emotional turmoil. Any point can shift the momentum, especially against a champion like Carlos.

“It was unfortunate what happened to me. But comparing it to 2023, it does help mentally. You have to play a bit more aggressive, I guess that is going to be necessary for me ahead of playing Zverev in the semi-finals.

“The key is recovery for me now. The extra day has come at a perfect time for me at the tournament. Let’s see if it’s going to be good enough on Friday. We have an agreement, as long as I keep playing he is going to let me win grand slam matches.”

“Since I am still in the tournament, I don’t want to reveal too much. The medication started to kick in.

“They helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose. If I’d lost that second set, I don’t know if I’d have continued playing.

“I felt better and better and managed to play a great couple of games at the end of the second set.

“Then I saw that Carlos was hesitant a little bit at the back of the court and I took my chances, started to feel better and move better.

“It didn’t bother me or create any hindrance towards the end of the match. When the medication starts to release, I’ll see what the reality is tomorrow morning.

“Right now I am just trying to be in the moment and enjoy this victory.”

How did Djokovic beat Alcaraz with an injury to his leg?

“With my two legs and two arms, I guess. Or one and a half legs,” said the Serbian after his win.

“First, I want to say my utmost respect and admiration for Carlos and everything he stands for and has achieved so far in his career.

“What a terrific guy he is and an even better competitor, the youngest No 1 in the world in history, four grand slams.

“I’m sure we are going to see a lot of him. He’s going to be there for sure longer than me. I just wish that this match today was the final, honestly.

“I don’t know if Sacha Zverev is still awake and watching this. One of the most epic matches that I’ve played on any court.”

The Australian Open quarter-finals are underway, with the opening grand slam of the season bursting with storylines as the second week of the tournament progresses.

Tennis has seen its fair share of mesmerising performances. Andy Murray’s gallant five-set thrillers, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal clashing in their prime, Serena Williams dominating with power and skill in equal measure.

Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek provided another one. Under the roof and the lights of the Rod Lever Arena the pair delighted, thrilled, and broke the hearts of themselves and the watching crowd as Keys claimed a 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) win in a match fit for a final.

Rarely in professional sport is one person so visibly better than their opponent in every aspect of play than this. Serves, second serves, movement, accuracy, and ball-striking all favoured the 23-year-old who put on a display that validated his ranking as the best tennis player in the world… not that he needed to.

Henry Patten is hoping his second grand slam final has the same outcome as the first – but without the stress.

Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara produced one of the more remarkable Wimbledon victories of recent years last summer in a nail-biting men’s doubles final against Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.

Novak Djokovic skipped practice at Melbourne Park for the second day in a row ahead of his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday.

The Serbian admitted he was concerned about his physical condition after sustaining a left thigh injury during his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

It was no surprise that Djokovic did not practise on site on Wednesday but, having been on the schedule on Thursday, his session was then removed.

US tennis player Ben Shelton claims that he has been “shocked” by the actions of TV broadcasters at the Australian Open, calling some of the interviews “negative” and “disrespectful”.

Shelton’s comments come just a few days after Channel Nine presenter Tony Jones was forced to apologise to Novak Djokovic after jokingly saying on air that the Serbian was “overrated” and a “has-been”.

And Shelton, speaking at the end of his post-match press conference on Wednesday, said that he was shocked with “how players have been treated by the broadcasters”.

It had appeared the world’s top two players were on a collision course to meet in a grand slam final for the first time, and Sabalenka kept her end of the bargain by beating close friend Paula Badosa 6-4 6-2.

But Swiatek, who had dropped just 14 games en route to the last four, was unable to join her, losing out 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10/8) in a pulsating match against Keys, who reached her only previous grand slam final at the US Open back in 2017.