BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Former Australian Open finalist Pat Cash: "Who am I to say Roger Federer can't win an 18th Slam, in the form that he's in? Djokovic has somehow been able to find a way to get past him and he's got the edge over recent years. But I'm going for Federer."

Image source, Getty Images

Players are out on court and it sounds like the crowd are split pretty much down the middle. They're knocking up now, Rod Laver is packed to the rafters already. 

Gigi Salmon
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

"It felt like the ovation for Novak Djokovic was bigger than the one for Roger Federer, which is not something you expect."

Here's an arresting stat to highlight Djokovic's suffocating dominance of men's tennis over the last few years: since the China Open in 2013, Djokovic is 57-4 against the top-10, minus Federer. Federer actually comes out of that stat rather well, given that he's only 9-6 down. 

Djokovic has won 15 of his last 16 Tour matches against top-10 opposition and 12 of his last 13 matches against top-10 opposition in Grand Slams. That one defeat was by Stan Wawrinka in last year's French Open final.  

Jon Spinks: Prepping for tennis lovers' biggest question: How often can I get away with checking the #bbctennis, external live updates at work!

Djokovic is bidding to reach his 19th Grand Slam final and move into equal-third place - alongside Ivan Lendl - on the all-time list. Federer is miles out in front with 27, Rafael Nadal is second with 20, while Peter Sampras is just behind with 18. Every time Djokovic has reached the last four in Melbourne, he has gone on to win the title.

Biodun Yusuf: Even Paul the octopus can't predict this one! Let's just sit & enjoy.

Djokovic and Federer have played each other 44 times (only Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, with 47, have played each other more in the Open era) and the the score is currently 22-22. Beginning in 2006, Federer won the first four games and 14 of the first 20. However, Djokovic slowly closed that gap between 2010 and 2015 and has won six of the last nine. 

This is Djokovic and Federer's 15th Grand Slam encounter (a record in the Open era), with the Serb currently leading 8-6. In the Australian Open, Djokovic leads 2-1.

Right, in about 20 minutes defending champion and five-time winner Novak Djokovic will walk onto Rod Laver Arena accompanied by four-time champion Roger Federer. Probably best not to make any plans for the next four hours, at least...

Just a reminder that the men's singles semi-final between five-time winner and defending champion Novak Djokovic and four-time winner Roger Federer will start at about 08:30 GMT. Rejoin us then for live text commentary of what promises to be a titanic encounter.

That's a wrap from us. For now. The match report on Konta's semi-final is available for you to read at your leisure by clicking here. 

Thanks, as always, for joining us. Come back again in a few hours for the battle of the greats between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. 

The line up for Sunday's men's final has yet to be decided, which means there's more swashbuckling tennis on the way. 

There'll be more live coverage from us as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer battle it out from 08:30 GMT for a place in the final. 

While on Friday, British number one Andy Murray will take on Canadian Milos Raonic. 

The women's line up is sorted for the final. Top seed and defending champion Serena Williams will face seventh seed Angelique Kerber. 

Johanna Konta's bid to become the first British female to reach a Grand Slam final since Virginia Wade in 1977 was unsuccessful, but that won't deter from a fabulous fortnight.

Konta can return to Eastbourne satisfied that she is at least the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 1977.

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain

“She is the massive underdog going into that final, Serena just looks invincible and I fear what Serena will do to that second serve – what Jo was unable to do today. It will be a tough match-up for Kerber but she does have a win against Serena.”

"It's great for German tennis," says Kerber after pleading with her hero Stefi Graff to send her some advice on how to beat top seed Serena Williams in the final. 

"I'm really looking forward to playing against Serena in the final. It's just amazing.

"I'm really looking forward to this challenge. I must play my best tennis to have a chance against her. I will try to play the final and hopefully play good."

Image source, Getty Images

"It's a really special moment, I've reached the finals for the first time," says Kerber. 

"I was trying to give everything today. Johanna is a great player and she will have a great future, she will win many tournaments in the future, that's for sure."