Djokovic overcomes Fritz, Gauff beats Kostyuk: Australian Open quarter-finals – live

Ah, we were misinformed: Krejcikova and Sabalenka are coming out now.

Krejcikova and Sabalenka, says Eurosport, were asked if they’d move to Court and they said no; good for them. Apparently, they’ll then see how the first set goes before deciding what to do with Sinner v Rublev, but whether they shift it or postpone it, no way they have that starting late doors, because were it to finish in the early hours, its winner would be at a massive disadvantage for their semi. Ultimately, the system needs sorting, because we should not be having this conversation – we might start earlier, only play one match at night, or use faster courts and balls to speed up the game. But something needs doing.

I think we’re an hour or so away from starting Krejcikova (9) v Sabalenka (2), and it should be a jazzer. I’ll be back with you for that, but in the meantime, to recap our day sesh, Coco Gauff overcame her nerves to beat Marta Kostyuk in three – she faces the winner of our next match in the last four – then Novak Djokovic beat Taylor Fritz in four.

Djokovic tells Babsy that he doesn’t want to get too close to her because he’s smelly and sweaty, then explains that he started feeling better in the third set, taking Fritz’s legs – though he says Fritz also took his. Asked about blowing kisses to Kyrgios in the booth, he reckons his mate is great for the game, liking the way he speaks his mind, and then advised that every time he’s reached the semis in Melbourne, he’s gone on to win the title. “Let’s be a bit humble,” says Djokovic when Babsy raises his arm, “but the confidence is there.” Who knew?

Nick Kyrgios walks on to court to interview Djokovic, the two kindred spirits in some ways. “Looking good in that booth but better over here, hopefully with a racket soon,” he’s advised, then asks the crowd to show their man some love.

“I suffered a lot first two sets,” Djokovic says, explaining that Fritz served well and was hitting close to the lines, “kind of suffocating me”. He felt it hard to find his timing, especially given the heat, asking the crowd to show appreciation for his opponent, then says it felt like playing Kyrgios, with his serve. Djokovic knew, having seen Fritz play Tsitsipas, that he was playing someone in nick, but he upped his game, served really well, and thinks he managed more aces – he did.

On the semis, he says Sinner and Rublev present different challenges but both are great players in great form. He watched Rublev beat De Minaur, noting some of the nailsest rallies he’s ever seen on Laver, also saying that Sinner was great at the end of last season, giving him all he could handle in the Tour Finals – though, of course, Djokovic still won.

Finally, Kyrgios asks to be shown Djokovic’s favourite tree as he needs some of its luck to get back playing; Djokovic says he’ll show him if he keeps it secret, and then he must climb to its highest point and hang upside down for 33 minutes and 33 seconds.

Fritz played well today and is a much-improved player. I guess he might’ve fancied himself, in that form, to have beaten anyone else in the draw, but his ill luck, for the second major on the spin he was draw to play the freakiest freak of nature we’ve ever seen. What can you do?

Novak Djokovic (1) beats Taylor Fritz (12) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3 6-3

Er, um, yeah. Down 0-30, Fritz swipes a forehand into the sideline, his despair visible, then a tame double means that Djokovic will now serve for the match at 5-3 in the fourth. The American will be thinking about that game for a while.

It must be so demoralising to get into the best possible shape, then face a man 10 years your senior apparently 10 times as fit. But what’s this?! Fritz punishes a backhand down the line for 0-30, the first time he’s scaled such heady heights since breaking the start of set two. And have a look! Djokovic goes long on the backhand meaning he faces three break-back points, and though he saves the first, a net-cord coverts a forehand into a drop, and we’re back on serve in set four at 4-3 Djokovic!

I guess the likelihood is that Djokovic wins in four, which should mean we’re OK for Krejcikova v Sabalenka – and what a match that should be – but I’m not certain we’re getting Sinner v Rublev, given the hour at which it’d necessarily start; it’s currently 8.18pm in Melbourne. I hope not because I’m buzzing for it, so let’s get back to the present moment, and consecutive errors from Fritz that leave him down 15-30. Ach, and there’s another a forehand sent long at the end of another sapping rally, meaning Djokovic – who makes so many balls it’s silly – now has two break points. And he only needs one, a backhand into the net making it 3/5 when previously it was 0/16, and I’m afraid this is only going one way. Djokovic leads 4-2 in the fourth and is just two games from victory.

I should say, because this is an afternoon sesh-match that started late, we’ll need an hour or so once it’s done to get the crowd in and out. And, should it go five, we might not be able to start at all – if’s past 11, I think the players have to accede – but let’s see. Djokovic holds easily for 3-2.

Fritz makes 15-0 but then nets a tame, tired backhand. A backhand winner follows, Djokovic howling frustration at himself, then an ace, but two punishing groundstrokes make deuce, and this feels ominous. Fritz, though, plays a fantastic point, coming in to foil fine defensive work, then closes out the game, again at the net. He’s not a natural there but he’s much improved, and this looks like his only potential route to victory. We’re 2-2 in set two, Djokovic by two sets to one.

Fritz is playing just a little better now and he finishes a long rally with a big inside-out forehand to the corner. But Djokovic still holds easily for 2-1 2-1 and him being broken looks extremely unlikely, though if the American can hang in there for a tiebreak, he’ll have a shot.

Excellent point from Fritz to make 30-15, but when we reach deuce, Djokovic finds a lovely forehand from mid-point to corner; this feels like curtains, but Fritz delivers a service winner to save yet another break point. Then, facing another – his 19th, and when was the last time that happened to him? – a backhand cross-court catches the outside of the line, but he’s having to empty everything just to stick in this game and that isn’t sustainable. Still, though, he eventually seals his hold with his first ace in quite some time, and we’re level at 1-1 in the fourth, Djokovic by two sets to one.

I hate to say it, but I’ve not a clue what Fritz can do here. He’s exhausted and he’s playing the greatest ever, in a major, on a court on which that aforementioned greatest almost never loses. Djokovic holds to love, and I guess all the American can do it try shortening the points, whether by coming to the net or trying to hit winners from the back. Thing is, I don’t think he served an ace in the third set and now trails 17-14 in that area, which tells you all you need to know about the difficulty of his task.

Novak Djokovic takes the third set against Taylor Fritz 6-2 to lead 2-1

At 30-15, Fritz tries a drop but gives it way too much air; real talk, he probably wanted the rally over so forced the issue. Djokovic retrieves, he can’t get his lob into court, and seconds later it’s 5-2, meaning the American must now hold to avoid falling 2-1 behind.

Fritz finds a fantastic forehand from the back, whipped hard and breaking the sideline for 30-0; Djokovic, paragonic altruist that he is, applauds, then pastes back a frankly despicable return from wide on the forehand side, cross-court for a ludicrous winner. From there, Fritz closes out but, a-la-la dee-day, he’s running to stand still. Djokovic leads 4-2 in the third.

Fritz looks tired now and perhaps he’s the one who needs to let things go, taking the rest of the set off for another go in the fourth. And as I type, Djokovic punishes an ace down the T for 40-0, his second of the game then Fritz plays a fine point, finishing at the net – to what avail, I’m not sure. A third ace duly follows, and the greatest leads 7-6 4-6 4-1.

Up 30-0, Fritz nets, and I wonder if Djokovic will press here – when a break up, he often allows his opponent to hold easily, so he’s no rhythm when trying to break back. Very quickly, it’s 1-3.

Djokovic consolidates to love for 3-0, meaning he’s won 12 of the last 14 points, and we’ve all seen this one before – with Djokovic, but also with his historical equivalents and comparators across all sports. It’s in the balance, until it isn’t.

A fine point from Djokovic, skipping in to retrieve a drop then conjuring a winner from a stretch backhand volley, makes 0-15; Fritz clumps a forehand winner to level things. We then move to 30-all and pressure, Djokovic upping it on the forehand to direct his opponent to the corners before cleaning up; break point, for the 16th time of the match … AND THIS TIME DJOKOVIC TAKES IT! That forehand takes over the rally early doors and though Fritz does really well to stick about, looking to have forced his way back in with a deep backhand, Djokovic finds a lovely angle to the opposite corner and, in normal circumstances, this is a turning point. We shall see, but for now, Djokovic leads 2-0 in the third.

These two also met in the last eight of the US Open, during which match I noted that Fritz has a huge serve but misses his spots under pressure. And that day, he was given a lesson in consistency by Djokovic, who’s sneakily grown into one of the best servers of all time in his thirties. Now, though, he looks a different player and, as I type, he galumphs all over the court to sustain a rally with get and tweener – it’s incredible stuff and I wonder if his cunning opponent prolongs it to keep him running – before a lob drops wide and an ace seals the game. Djokovic leads 7-6 4-6 1-0.

Fritz disappears between sets and for quite some time; I’m not surprised, it’s apparently hotter than hell out there, and after the emotional dump of serving out – how well did he do it, by the way? – a quick change of clothes is probably useful to help him reset to go again.

Taylor Fritz wins the second set 6-4 to level his match with Novak Djokovic at one set all!

Thanks Joey and good morrow one and all; what a moment to begin! Can Taylor Fritz see this set out?

Djokovic holds to 30, forcing Fritz to serve for the second set. Under pressure, the Serb has the answers, lifting his finger to his lips after making it 40-30 and then finishing things off with a drive volley.

I think that’s just about enough from me, though, I’m exhausted and I’ve only been watching these two go at it. I’ve been Joey Lynch and I’ll now leave you in the capable hands of Daniel Harris for the rest of this match and beyond.

Fritz holds serve to take a 5-3 advantage in the second set. This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Just plain silly.

Djokovic brings up another break point at 30-40 but, guess what? Fritz sees it off, fighting back to deuce. Then the Serb brings up another break point but, after a 25 shot rally – the games longest – the American survives again. A third break point eventuates but so does another backhand winner from Fritz. Another break point comes and another backhand winner down the line to save it. Fritz then claims the advantage and takes the game with an ace.

That’s now 15 (15!!!) break points faced down by the twelfth seed and he’s seen off every single one.

Djokovic holds to 15, sending through an ace to keep Fritz within touching distance in this second set. The Serb maintains a one set advantage, 7-6(3) 2-4.

Fritz holds and maintains his advantage! It’s remarkable. It’s ridiculous. Djokovic has brought up 11 break points in this game but Fritz has save each and every one.

The American falls down another two break points in this game but rallies back to force deuce, send through an ace to take the advantage, and then Djokovic sends a return long to give him the game.

Djokovic holds to love, making it 2-3 in the second set. The top seed opens with an ace of his own, setting the tone for a service game that features another ace and ends with Fritz unable to return a well-delivered serve.

Fritz holds to 15, taking out the game with a powerful cross-court ace that Djokovic doesn’t attempt to return.

Djokovic holds to love, still down but strongly getting himself on the board in this second set.

Fritz holds serve to consolidate his advantage, taking a 2-0 lead in the second set. Djokovic does his best to immediately break back, sending the game to multiple deuces, but Fritz drives through two aces to take the game and consolidate his advantage.

Fritz breaks to open the second set. Well how about that! After neither man was able to convert their opportunities in the first set, the American goes straight out in the second and takes one off Djokovic at the first opportunity, sending it to deuce before taking it out with a big forehand winner.

Novak Djokovic wins the first set against Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3)

An awesome cross-court backhand from Djokovic flies across the face of Fritz as he crashes the net and brings up five set points for the Serb.

The tie break change of ends comes with Djokovic now holding a 5-1 advantage after he races to the net and places a return where Fritz has no hope of reaching it.

Djokovic moves out to a 4-0 lead and boy did he like that one, releasing a guttural roar and a fist pump to the crowd after sending in a drop shot that Fritz couldn’t return.

The tie breaker for the first set begins and Djokovic quickly moves out to a 3-0 lead, bringing up that third point with an ace.

Djokovic holds serve and we’re off to a tie break! Fritz brings up two set points – the first time he’s brought up break point all match – but the World No 1 rallies to force deuce.

The American sends a backhand long to surrender the advantage but after a few interruptions from the crowd – a crying baby, it looks like — interrupts the serve Djokovic can’t convert. No harm no foul for the Serb, though, who bounces back and forces a seven point tie break.

Let’s face it, after that opening service game went 16 minutes we all knew it was headed here.

The local commentators noting that there was a bit of yelling between Djokovic and his box before this latest servicel the Serb’s request for salts initially falling on closed ears as they talked amongst themselves.

Fritz throws down the gauntlet, holding to love and Djokovic will now serve looking to send this opening set to a tie break.