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Jannik Sinner loves playing in Australia.

The Italian second seed has won back-to-back titles in Melbourne and is on a 19-match winning streak at the tournament.

The last player to beat him at the Australian Open was Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round in 2023.

He's only dropped one set - against Eliot Spizzirri in round three - since beating Alexander Zverev in the Vienna Open final in October.

Sinner, 24, is aiming to become the first player since Novak Djokovic (2019-21 and 2011-13) to win three consecutive men's singles titles at the Australian Open.

Quite different vibes from Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the camera picks them out in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner is strolling around with a tennis ball in his hand.

Djokovic, earphones in, was last seen bounding from side to side with a medicine ball.

Two former champions coming up on Rod Laver Arena...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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It is very hard to finish off an injured player. I couldn't finish off Stefan Edberg here when he pulled a stomach muscle.

You don't want to change your game, start doing drop shots if it's not your natural game. Then the mind games come in; what should I be doing? Should I be running him or not?

Zverev is going to walk off and think 'I couldn't beat a guy who was on one leg for two sets' - that is going to be highly damaging to him.

He didn't play badly, he is just not good enough.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That was absolutely breathtaking, what a dramatic match.

What an incredible contest, this is what Grand Slam action is all about.

It took us on so many twists and turns. A physical, mental and brutal match.

Alcaraz is a deserved winner - I don't know how he found enough energy to pull through.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

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Woahhh, we're halfway there - don't forget there is another match to come.

Alcaraz has lived on a prayer today and so has Novak Djokovic over the past week.

A walkover and a retirement has helped Djokovic into the last four, enabling thousands of Melbourne's vast Serb community to turn up again tonight and support him.

It's rammed out in the grounds.

Ticketholders for tonight's showdown between Djokovic and Sinner are still waiting patiently outside Rod Laver Arena for the day crowd to be kicked out before they can go in.

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Well, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have a tough act to follow, don’t they?

Neither player will want to be involved in that level of drama with a spot in Sunday’s final against Carlos Alcaraz on the line.

The form book suggests another five-set marathon isn't on the cards - Sinner has won their past three meetings in straight sets, including semi-final wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2025 - but you would have been hard pressed to predict the blockbuster we've just seen with Alexander Zverev trailing by two sets.

Stick around. The second men's semi-final is coming up.

In case you missed any of that:

• Carlos Alcaraz looked on course for victory when he led by two sets
• Serving at 4-4 in the third, he suddenly pulled up and was barely able to move
• The world number one managed to go within two points of a three-set victory on Alexander Zverev's serve
• Zverev battled back to force a fifth set with Alcaraz still struggling with cramp
• Zverev went an early break up in the fifth set and served for the match at 5-4
• Alcaraz broke to get the match back on serve and then capitalised on Zverev's nerves as the German served at 6-5 down to try to force a 10-point tie-break
• At five hours and 27 minutes, it was the longest semi-final in Australian Open history

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Goodness knows what is going through Zverev's mind right now.

He must be frazzled. He looked dazed and confused as he trudges back to the locker room.

There have been some heartbreaking defeats in the German's career - notably three Grand Slam final losses.

This surely ranks just below them.

All of us after watching that match.

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On what it would mean to win on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz says: "I am really happy to have the chance to play in my first final in Melbourne.

"I couldn't be here right now without these guys [the crowd] it's a pleasure playing in front of all of you. The way you pushed me back into the match on every ball, every point is crazy.

"Hopefully it will be a good support on Sunday and a great atmosphere, I can't wait.

"Right now, my head is on recovering and trying to be in a good state to put on a show on for you.

"See you on Sunday."

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Speaking after his five-set victory over Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz said: "I always say that you have to believe in yourself no matter what you have been through.

"I was struggling in the middle of the third set and physically it was one of the most demanding matches I have played in my career.

"I have been in this kind of match before and I knew what I had to do, I knew I had to put my heart into it.

"I did it and fought until the last ball.

"I am extremely proud in the way I fought back in the fifth set."

Image source, EPA

Carlos Alcaraz writes 'Believe :)' on the TV camera lens.

The Spaniard's brother joins him on the court to help him with his bags before he hobbles off the court.

Now it's about how he's going to manage to recover in time for Sunday's showpiece.

We'll bring you his thoughts on that remarkable semi-final next.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

An Australian open devoid of drama has just produced one of the most dramatic tennis matches you could ever wish to see.

Cramp was a very significant factor in that - Zverev came storming back but after five hours and 27 minutes he is in his fourth consecutive Grand Slam final, and an Australian Open finalist for the first time.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

Cabeza, corazón y cojones.

Carlos Alcaraz shows everything which his grandfather preached to him.

Head, heart and... courage, shall we say.

Alcaraz prods his chest to indicate this victory came from the heart.

We've seen some extraordinary things from this 22-year-old kid from Murcia already in his career - and here's another one.

"Believing, believing all the time."

Carlos Alcaraz's response when he's asked how on earth he came through that to reach his first Australian Open final.

This is, of course, the player who came back from two sets and three championship points down to win last year's French Open epic.

But I'm not sure we've ever seen him suffer physically like he did out there today, having played in 30C for the first two or three hours of it.

Image source, Getty Images

Matches like that don't come around very often.

In truth, we've been starved of truly thrilling, edge-of-your-seat matches at this year's Australian Open.

But that wasn't half worth the wait.

Carlos Alcaraz looked down and out. The man could barely move.

That was about three hours ago.

After five hours and 27 minutes on court, he has somehow found a way to win that fifth set.

Remarkable.

Carlos Alcaraz has match point.

I repeat. Match point Carlos Alcaraz.