Novak Djokovic v Kei Nishikori: Australian Open quarter-final – live!

Second set: Djokovic* 6-1, 3-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic cruises into a 40-0 lead with a series of wonderful groundstrokes. He holds to love when he polishes off a forehand at the net.

Second set: Djokovic 6-1, 2-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Nishikori slams a drive volley wide for 0-30. He hangs his head, and well he might, for that was crummy. Djokovic earns three set points when Nishikori sends a forehand long. Then Nishikori knocks a forehand into the net and walks gingerly back to his chair. Djokovic breaks. This is an appalling match.

Second set: Djokovic* 6-1, 1-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to love. No drama. Just relentless control.

Second set: Djokovic 6-1, 0-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Now the physio’s worked his magic – we hope – the match can resume with Nishikori serving. He’s looking a little sprightlier when he rams a forehand down the line for 40-15, much to the crowd’s approval. He holds to 15.

Kei Nishikori is having a medical timeout. The physio is massaging his right thigh.

Djokovic quickly earns three set points. This is grim. Nishikori nets a backhand. He looks like he wants a lie down. On comes the physio.

First set: Djokovic 5-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): The game goes to deuce once more. Djokovic earns a

set
break point when Nishikori nets a tired backhand slice. He takes it when a Nishikori half-volley gives him room to send a backhand down the line. Nishikori has asked for the trainer.

First set: Djokovic* 4-1 Nishikori (*denotes server): Nishikori’s low level so far has slightly disguised that Djokovic isn’t actually playing that well. For instance, the game goes to deuce when Djokovic butchers an easy smash at the net, hammering it wide. But Nishikori can’t take advantage. Djokovic is too solid and he makes no mistake with a smash when Nishikori gives him another chance to hit one.

First set: Djokovic 3-1 Nishikori* (*denotes server): The game goes to 30-all. There’s a subdued atmosphere in the stands. They can see Nishikori’s struggling. The game goes to deuce after a vicious backhand return from Djokovic, though Nishikori clings on this time.

First set: Djokovic 3-0 Nishikori* (*denotes server): Djokovic holds to 15, consolidating the break easily. Not to sound too gloomy, but we can probably call this now.

First set: Djokovic 2-0 Nishikori* (*denotes server): In need of a fast start, Nishikori lashes a forehand away for 15-0. Then he misses a couple of forehands, handing Djokovic a 15-30 lead. Djokovic nets a backhand down the line. The game goes to deuce. The intensity isn’t high; both players are making a lot of errors. Then Djokovic turns up the heat, drilling a backhand down the line to earn the first break point. Nishikori, tight and edgy, nets a backhand. Oh dear. Nishikori looks knackered already.

First set: Djokovic* 1-0 Nishikori (*denotes server): Djokovic opens the serving and opens with a crisp delivery down the middle for 15-0. Nishikori nets a couple of times; 40-0. Djokovic holds to love.

The hitting part’s almost over. It’s almost time for tennis!

Here come the players. Kei Nishikori emerges first, closely followed by the great Novak Djokovic, the champion here on six occasions.

Kei Nishikori has been on court for almost 14 hours so far. It isn’t really where you want to be before playing Novak Djokovic.

In the women’s draw, Serena Williams is out! The American lost in three sets to Karolina Pliskova earlier. Pliskova, who was 5-1 down in the third set before coming back to win three straight games after Williams rolled an ankle, will play Naomi Osaka after the Japanese star’s 6-1, 6-4 win over Elina Svitolina.

The winner of this match will play Lucas Pouille, who has beaten Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. That’s a fine win for the 28th seed, who’s into his first grand slam semi-final. Raonic had been in great form, crushing Alexander Zverev on Monday.

Hello. It’s hard not to feel a little cynical about this one. When Kei Nishikori stunned Novak Djokovic in their US Open semi-final in 2014, you might be surprised to learn the classy Japanese shotmaker had won two of his three encounters with the Serb. Yet any prospect of this becoming one of the game’s great rivalries has been well and truly shattered by Djokovic since that shock win for Nishikori. Now the world No1 makes it his mission to put Nishikori in his place every time they meet. He’s won all of their last 14 matches; goes to show where insubordination gets you.

This is their third consecutive meeting in the latter stages of a grand slam and the concern is that it will be another Djokovic romp. He was dominant in their Wimbledon quarter-final last year, merciless in their US Open semi-final two months later and this is likely to be another one-sided affair if fatigue grips the notoriously brittle Nishikori, who comes into this match having fought back from two sets down to beat Pablo Carreno Busta in controversial circumstances on Monday. Though Djokovic admitted to some concerns over his fitness after suffering a heavy fall in his tough win over Daniil Medvedev two days ago, he’ll be eager to exploit any signs of weariness and fragility in the No8 seed, whose body is always liable to let him down after long physical battles.

Who knows, maybe it will be different this time. Maybe. Nishikori has the talent to inconvenience anyone on his day. But how far is he willing to push himself against the world’s best grinder? History isn’t encouraging – so don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking you’ve seen this match before.

Play begins: soon.