Key posts
Your view: which match are you most excited for today?
Oh man, tennis fans, do we have two tantalising matches on today or what?
First up is the 10-time Open champion Novak Djokovic against the rising Italian star, and quickly becoming fan-favourite, Jannik Sinner.
Then, to headline the evening, world No.3 Daniil Medvedev will step back out on Rod Laver Arena to face the reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev.
For the victors, the final awaits. Get the popcorn ready.
Is this Italian superstar the man to end Novak’s Melbourne reign?
By Marc McGowan
If anyone can do it, it’s looking likely to be the young Italian who is yet to drop a set this tournament.
Our senior tennis reporter Marc McGowan details how Jannik Sinner was already an Italian pin-up by the time of last year’s ATP Finals, but the stars aligned to rocket his profile to the moon.
The 22-year-old with the mop of red hair – who will face Novak Djokovic in Friday’s Australian Open semi-finals – had already put together a career-best season, highlighted, to that point, by his maiden Masters 1000 title at the expense of Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Toronto.
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a backhand return to Andrey Rublev.Credit: AP
Sinner was disappointed with his grand slam performances, outside making the Wimbledon semi-finals, but arrived for the ATP Finals, in Turin, Italy, as the world No.4 and with expectation he could do something special.
That is precisely what happened in the weeks that followed, including a first-ever win over world No.1 Djokovic and grand slam champion Daniil Medvedev.
After this, a lot was said about this rising star across the men’s tennis world. You can find out what in the full report here.
Sabalenka to face Zheng as she defends title
The Australian Open’s defending champion has her revenge – and can now turn her focus to winning back-to-back titles.
Aryna Sabalenka made no secret after her quarter-final demolition of Barbora Krejcikova that she wanted to banish the memory of last year’s US Open final defeat to Coco Gauff by beating the American in their rematch almost 17,000 kilometres away in Melbourne.
Aryna Sabalenka will meet Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen for the Australian Open women’s final.Credit: Eddie Jim
Sabalenka conceded no more than three games in any of her 10 sets en route to the Australian Open semi-finals, but predictably had a far tougher time of it against Gauff before prevailing 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in an absorbing contest.
The victory also means the 25-year-old Belarusian holds on to her world No.2 ranking, which fourth-seeded Gauff would have taken if she won on Thursday night.
Sabalenka will meet Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen in Saturday night’s final as she attempts to become the first woman to claim consecutive singles titles at Melbourne Park since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13.
Key matches
Here’s a look at today’s key matches.
Good morning
By Marnie Vinall
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of day 13 action at the Australian Open. Can you believe it? The last weekday before the big finals weekend!
Men’s semi-finals are on today, and first up on Rod Laver Arena, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will continue his quest for a record 11th Australian Open title against Italian Jannik Sinner.
They’ll face off in the afternoon, not before 2.30pm.
And tonight, world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev faces Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
But before all that, we have mixed doubles finals on centre court from noon.
I’m Marnie Vinall, and I’ll bring you all the action from Melbourne Park and beyond. Grab your coffee and let’s get into it.
I’s going to be a big one today.
