Australian Open: Dominic Theim Beats Alexander Zverev To Make First Final Appearance In Melbourne

Dominic Thiem has successfully qualified for his first final appearance in Melbourne Park but had to fight back from a set down and through two tiebreaks against Alexander Zverev in the semi-final.

Zverev was eliminated after playing through four sets, 3-6 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(4), to be outlasted by the Austrian and set up a final match against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic - the defending champion is making his eighth final appearance in the Australian Open.

"This year I actually came into the Australian Open with absolutely no expectations," the German lamented failing to make a final appearance. "I was playing horrible. At the ATP Cup I was playing bad, and the weeks before."

Alexander Zverev trails Dominic Thiem by 2:7 in head to head series

The 22-year-old comfortable crushed Dominic in the first set and was coasting to winning the second set at 4/5 but was denied a break by the Austrian who won the game and another thereafter to level up with him. After losing the third set in a tiebreak, he was finally eliminated in the tiebreak of the fourth set as Dominic claimed two match points at 5/4.

"It was an unreal match. Again, two tiebreaks," said Dominic. "It was almost impossible to break him, he has such a high percentage on his first serve but Australian Open final is absolutely unreal [for me]."

Zverev scored 81 percent of his first serve and also served 16 aces, yet Dominic was able to curb is aggression keeping his forehand shot down the baseline and accompanied by periodic slices and drop shots. He had four breaks in nine advantages and saved nine in 14 break advantages face against the German.