u2018 It was an unreal matchu2019 menu2019s singles semis Melbourne: Tireless Dominic Thiem came from a set down to outlast German Alexander Zverev and make his first Australian Open final on Friday, booking a showdown with seven- time champion Novak Djokovic, a man he called the u201c kingu201d. Thiem, 26, fifth seed, the first player from Austria ever to reach the Melbourne decider, battled past seventh- ranked Zverev 3- 6, 6- 4, 7- 6 ( 7/ 3), 7- 6 ( 7/ 4) on a sweltering evening.

u201c It was an unreal match, two tie- breakers, so tough and so close. It was almost impossible to break him,u201d said Thiem.