Carlos Alcaraz v Alexander Zverev live: Australian Open latest score updates from semi-finals before Novak Djokovic v Jannik Sinner

Another cry of “vamos” from Alcaraz, after bouncing back from a double-fault on the opening point. His coaching box are full of encouragement as we reach the deciding stages of the first set.

Alcaraz gets his teeth into the Zverev service game and there’s a big point at 30-30. Zverev finds the first serve and Alcaraz drops deep after making the return. Zverev strikes, but Alcaraz somehow produces the backhand pass crosscourt, clipping the very outside of the line.

Break point: but Zverev finds the first serve and Alcaraz nets on the return. Alcaraz nets on the backhand and Zverev does well to come through that unscathed.

Bit of a chance for Zverev! He wins the opening point against the Alcaraz serve, standing up to the Spaniard at the baseline. On 0-15, Zverev had the look at the forehand down the line, but nets.

Alcaraz finds good serving from there, landing a wicket wide ace and two more first serves. We hear a roar from him for the first time.

It’s been a fine start from Zverev. With his first-serve percentage high, he is rolling through the games and comes through a second love-hold in a row.

Alcaraz steps it up with a stunning backhand winner down the line – shot of the match so far – as the Spaniard holds.

A love-hold for Zverev, who has started well in the bright Melbourne sun. He finds the first serve and powers the forehand winner past Alcaraz.

It’s actually Alcaraz, with this reworked serve since the end of last season, who gets the first ace of the match.

He jumps into a 40-0 lead, but a couple of forehand errors allow Zverev back into it. Alcaraz takes a gulp of air.

And he belts down a second ace, right down the T.

All eyes are on the Zverev serve, a game-changing shot for the German that will likely determine how competitive this semi-final can be. He closes the net and swats a volley to move to 40-15. A backhand error from Zverev is then traded with a forehand error from Alcaraz. Zverev holds.

Carlos Alcaraz leads the walk out onto the Rod Laver Arena for his first Australian Open semi-final. The Spaniard lost to Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals two years ago. Last year, Zverev advanced past Novak Djokovic at this stage when the 10-time champion retired, and he was the runner-up to Jannik Sinner. With his serve, Zverev can take the racket out of Alcaraz’s racket if his serve is on fire. But Alcaraz has come on so much in two years.

Coin toss time: Alcaraz wins the toss and elects to receive.

Australia’s Olivia Gadecki and John Peers became the first pair in 37 years to successfully defend the Australian Open mixed doubles title, defeating French duo Kristina Mladenovic and Manuel Guinard 4-6 6-3 10-8.

The wildcard pairing became the first team since Jana Novotna and Jim Pugh in 1989 to retain the crown and the first Australian pair to do so since Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher 62 years ago.