Morning! If you're in the UK anyway, for it's almost time for some night session on the Rod Laver. The women's final is set, with Naomi Osaka facing Jennifer Brady on Saturday, so it's time to see who can book their place in the men's final. Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Daniil Medvedev is not until tomorrow, it's all about the world number one and the qualifier....

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 6-2 KARATSEV: And there you have it, water is wet, and Djokovic is into another Australian Open final. It was testing at times but Karatsev just could not maintain the level of performance required to beat the best player in men’s tennis. Sealed with two aces, Djokovic is serving his way to a ninth title in Melbourne – surely – unless one of Tsitsipas or Medvedev can stop the Serbian on Sunday!

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 *5-2 KARATSEV: It’s a break for Djokovic, almost exactly when you would expect him to, and he is about to serve for the match.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 4-2* KARATSEV: Not exactly all going Djokovic’s way but he overcomes another challenge on serve to take a step closer to the final.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 *3-2 KARATSEV: Anything you can do… Djokovic responds in kind and has two break points himself. He only needs the one as Karatsev finds the net.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 2-2* KARATSEV: Hang about! Where did that come from?! Karatsev powers his way to 15-40 and he converts his first of two break points with a stunning forehand winner. Contest back on, in this set at least!

Loving it.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 *2-1 KARATSEV: That’ll help. Karatsev with a hold to love to stay within touching distance.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 2-0* KARATSEV: Too good right now. Djokovic holds to 15 and it is difficult to see a way back for the Russian now.

This point feels like a while ago!

All the answers...

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 *1-0 KARATSEV: About those signs… Djokovic quickly goes 0-30 up on the Karatsev serve, and it’s then three break points for the world number one. Karatsev saves the first with a backhand winner, but a net cord takes the ball out and Djokovic breaks immediately.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 0-0* KARATSEV: This time Djokovic does it, converting his third set point and letting out a huge roar towards his box. Signs towards the end of that set that we could have a tighter contest in the third, but you’d have to back the world number one to seal it in three!

DJOKOVIC 6-3 *5-4 KARATSEV: He failed to serve it out once, and Djokovic faces a mighty challenge again. At 40-15 up he has two set points but Karatsev saves them both, taking it to deuce after winning a magnificent rally. A HUGE return winner then brings up break point for Karatsev! Djokovic saves it with a big serve but Karatsev then earns another break point. Again, some big serving digs Djokovic out of trouble, and we head to deuce number three!

DJOKOVIC 6-3 *5-4 KARATSEV: As you would expect Karatsev faces a battle on serve, but from 15-30 down he wins the next two points. However, Djokovic takes him to deuce to go two points away from the set. He’ll have to wait though, Karatsev holds, but now Djokovic is serving – again – for the second set.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 5-3* KARATSEV: Out of nowhere, a first double fault from Djokovic at 30-30 and Karatsev has his first break point of the match! He can’t convert though as he sends a forehand wide. From deuce, Karatsev brings up a second break point with a fine return winner, and this time he gets it!! One break of serve… now the Russian needs to hold then break again.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 *5-2 KARATSEV: Merely delaying the inevitable, you’d have to say, but it could be a confidence booster for Karatsev come the third set as he holds to 15. Short break, then Djokovic serving for the second set…

DJOKOVIC 6-3 5-1* KARATSEV: Djokovic is purring, and you fear those with a night session ticket will barely get another hour of action on Rod Laver. Two aces in a row and now the Serb is a game away from the second set.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 *4-1 KARATSEV: Crikey, make that a second straight break to love. Hard to believe it was 3-3 in the first set! Djokovic has gone on to win seven of the next eight games.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 3-1* KARATSEV: Simply supreme. A stunning down-the-line backhand winner just sums up how Djokovic is playing right now, but Karatsev keeps going for broke and it pays off a couple of times to make Djokovic wait. From 40-30 though, Karatsev fires a backhand wide and it’s another hold for the top seed.

DJOKOVIC 6-3 *2-1 KARATSEV: Oh dear, oh dear. Djokovic breaks to love! Doing so thanks to a Karatsev double fault at the worst time possible.