Djokovic edges out Zverev to reach semi-final

Novak Djokovic

MELBOURNE (REUTERS): Reigning champion Novak Djokovic overcame some dips in form to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6) and book his place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.

The Serbian world number one hit back strongly after losing a tight opening set on a tiebreak but trailed in both the third and fourth sets before turning them around.

Germany’s Zverev will rue allowing Djokovic back from 4-1 down in the third set, in addition to being 3-0 in front in the fourth.

Djokovic again wore tape on his abdominal area, a legacy of the injury picked up in his third-round win over Taylor Fritz.

However, it did not appear to bother him as he reached his 39th Grand Slam semi-final, where he will face an unlikely opponent in Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.