Live Commentary: Novak Djokovic vs. Stanislas Wawrinka - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Australian Open semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka.

Wherever you are in the world - whether it is morning, afternoon or night - you better have your popcorn ready because you could be about to see an epic story told over several hours on a tennis court in the Australian city of Melbourne. Am I over-hyping this? Oh no. I'm most definitely not...

Djokovic, the world number one, has won 16 of his 19 meetings with Wawrinka, last year's champion, but the only matches anyone is interested in is the two five-set classics that have occurred at the Australian Open. In 2013, Djokovic came back from a set down to run out a 12-10 winner in the decider, but last year, it was Wawrinka who prevailed in the final set, winning 9-7 as he moved nearer to his first Grand Slam title. Appetite whetted? I don't believe you if you say no...

Anyway, enough of the "over-hype" - there will be enough of that ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl. The two players have made their way onto the Rod Laver Arena and are currently midway through their warmup so we should be underway in just a few minutes.

That just gives me enough time to tell you that the winner of this match will move through to the final to play British number one Andy Murray, who overturned a set deficit to beat Tomas Berdych on Thursday. Fancy reading Sports Mole's feature on the two-time major winner before we get going in Melbourne? Of course you do. Here it is.

It will be Novak Djokovic to serve first. Strap yourself in, folks...

It's a slightly untidy game, but an ace and solid first serve from Djokovic make sure that he gets on the board with a hold to 15. There's plenty of tension in the air.

Wawrinka comes into this contest having won 10 matches in a row and he makes an impressive start to trying to achieve an 11th with a hold to love. The first serve and shots off the ground already seem to be firing.

Djokovic opens with his second ace of the match before Wawrinka fails to find the target with a couple of baselines efforts. A love hold is completed with a big serve out wide. Just one returning point recorded so far in three games.

It's Wawrinka's turn to start with an ace but he follows that with a mistake off his backhand - something that is very rarely said. The Swiss comes through with the confident hold though, and neither man are prepared to give much away behind their serve sofar.

Wawrinka gets into a couple of rallies in the fifth game but he can only find the net with a backhand and a forehand. It's difficult to tell if he is being too tentative or too aggressive, but he's yet to find the balance. Djokovic holds to 15.

Wawrinka was unhappy with something during the change of ends - no-one knows why - but whatever it was, it's disturbed his game and he quickly falls 0-30 down. However, that backhand is warming up and he finds the corner to get back to 30-30. Djokovic looks ready to create the first break point of the match but he tamely hits the top of the tape to hand Wawrinka a game point, but that backhand cools down again and the error is made. Wawrinka resorts to power to take the next two points, but it appears as though the trainer has been called.

BREAK! After the opening two points are shared, Djokovic goes wide with a forehand down the line. He then comes under attack from Wawrinka from both wings and it's enough to draw another mistake out of the world number one. It's two break points to Wawrinka and he strikes at the first time of asking when Djokovic smashes a forehand long.

BREAK! The trainer was called to give Wawrinka some eye drops, but all that appears to be dealt with now. They seem to have had a detrimental effect though because the Swiss proceeds to make two mistakes to gift Djokovic 0-30. We are then treated to the rally of the match with Djokovic being forced to all areas of the court but he comes through to earn three break points, the first of which is taken when Wawrinka lashes wide.

Djokovic was furious after dropping serve, but he calmly sends down back-to-back aces to suggest that he is fully tuned in. However, Wawrinka's shots off the ground are beginning to hurt Djokovic but he gets to 40-15 after the Swiss just misses the baseline. The game is sealed when Wawrinka hooks a forehand wide and when he returns, he will be serving to stay in the first set.

After losing the first point, Wawrinka needs to be careful but he blasts his way to 15-15 with a succession of forehands. However, another unforced error - his 11th of the match - leaves Djokovic two points from the set, and that becomes one when Wawrinka can't handle a return. Wawrinka saves the first of the set points with a clever serve out wide, while the second is saved when Djokovic miscues a forehand. Wawrinka is encouraged and two aces later, he gets the hold.

It's a much more comfortable game for Djokovic, who shakes off squandering two set points to seal a love hold with an aggressive drive volley at the net.

Wawrinka possesses remarkable strength in his backhand and he uses it all to power a backhand down the line. That paves the way for a love hold, and we are heading into a tie-break.

It's fine margins but Wawrinka just misses with an attempted backhand winner, and he has further bad luck with a quite ridiculous backhand lob from Djokovic as he fended off a volley. Wawrinka then miscues from the baseline and this set is quickly falling away from the Swiss. It's 4-0 to Djokovic with a flat serve out wide, and that becomes 5-0 when Wawrinka just goes long with a backhand down the line. Wawrinka finally gets on the board when Djokovic misses with a backhand return but the world number one is closing in on this first set.

SET! Djokovic earns five set points when Wawrinka fires a forehand into the net and it's sealed on the first point when wawrinka mis-hits a forehand. Wawrinka needs to use the break to regain his focus because he made a few mistakes at the end of that tie-break.

Can't get a ticket for the Rod Laver Arena? No bother...

Garden Square full to the brim to watch #Djokovic take on #Wawrinka. #ausopen #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/suBr1hpPNi — Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2015

It's a shocker of a start from Wawrinka, who follows a bad mistake on a volley with a double fault, and although he halves the deficit, he gives Djokovic two break points after being overpowered by the Serbian. The first is saved emphatically, before Djokovic squanders the second when a forehand goes long of the baseline. The Swiss reaches game point, but Djokovic remains active with an excellent forehand return. It's not for long though, and an ace from Wawrinka pulls him through.

Apart from the game where he was broken, Djokovic has looked superb behind his serve and he holds to love again with minimal of fuss. Wawrinka could do with a few more of those.

A sixth ace from Wawrinka brings up 30-0 before Djokovic struggles to handle a flat backhand from the Swiss. The love hold is sealed when Djokovic nets a return. This is warming up, slowly. Wawrinka looks to have forgotten the disappointment of the first set.

Djokovic has made a few more unforced errors than you would usually expect, but he looks in fine form. A sharp backhand volley at the net earns three game points before he forces another mistake out of Wawrinka for yet another hold to love.

After the opening two points are shared, the crowd are on their feet after Wawrinka prevails after a punishing baseline rally, before a backhand on the stretch from Djokovic fails to clear the net. Wawrinka eventually holds to 30 with a solid first serve.

BREAK! At 30-0, Djokovic reminds people that he is still human behind his first by netting a forehand and all of a sudden, Wawrinka has 30-30 when crushing a backhand down the line. That becomes break point after Djokovic misses with a similar shot, and the Swiss takes it when Djokovic concedes a double fault! Remarkable stuff.

Djokovic shows stunning defensive skills to get a smash back over the net before crunching a cross-court forehand past Wawrinka. However, he can't capitalise and Wawrinka fights back to earn two game points. Djokovic gets back to deuce, but Wawrinka replies with a brutal backhand down the line. Djokovic falters on the next point and Wawrinka moves to within a game of one set all.

The crowd are loving this now. The duo trade forehand winners before Djokovic restores a bit of calm with a big first serve. A second serve is effective for two game points, and Wawrinka leaves himself having to serve for the set when he strikes a wayward forehand.

SET! Despite what is riding on this game, Wawrinka looks unnerved as he rattles down another ace for 30-0 before chasing down a couple of well-struck shots from Djokovic before converting a smash. He brings up three set points, and the first is taken with a first serve out wide. I told you to get your popcorn...

That's the first set that Djokovic has lost at this year's tournament. Will he lose any more? We will soon find out...

The start of this third set could prove pivotal, and it's a shaky start from Djokovic, who makes a two baseline errors to immediately hand Wawrinka another chance to break serve. The defending champion has his chance but he miscues an inside-out backhand with Djokovic out of the point. Wawrinka stays in the game, but Djokovic finally seals what you feel is an important hold.

BREAK! Wawrinka makes a glaring error on the first point and the danger signs are there when Djokovic executes a superb cross-court forehand that passes the Swiss at the net for 15-30. That becomes 15-40 when Wawrinka miscues a backhand wide of the line, and the world number one breaks through when Wawrinka goes long.

Djokovic is furious with himself after missing a volley at 15-0, but he gets to 40-15 after a couple of mistakes from Wawrinka. The Swiss remains in the game with a winner but when he just misses with a forehand down the line, Djokovic moves three games ahead.

Djokovic looks extremely relaxed, although maybe too relaxed - he has just sent two drop shots into the net. He replies with a forehand winner before Wawrinka makes successive errors to give his opponent a chance for the double-break. Wawrinka survives though, and he needed that to remain competitive in the set.

BREAK! Wawrinka has been boosted by that hold and Djokovic's level has dropped. The Swiss brings up three break points after a smash and a couple of mistakes from his opponent, and after a drop volley goes wide, Wawrinka has the break to love.

Wawrinka opens the game with a trademark backhand winner down the line but Djokovic reacts sharply on the next return to level things up. The pair trade points for a second time before Wawrinka overpowers the world number one to earn game point. He seals it with a pacey first serve and we are all square in both sets and games.

Djokovic is on the back foot but a love hold in this game could get him back on track. That's exactly what transpires, and the onus is back on Wawrinka.

The Swiss is playing like a man who has no pressure on his shoulders now, and while that is untrue, it's dangerous signs for Djokovic. Three big first serves help Wawrinka to a love hold of his own.

Djokovic looks on course for 30-0 but Wawrinka makes up enough ground to connect with a cross-court passing shot. He lets the world number off the hook though with two poor errors before floating a backhand slice long of the baseline.

SET! Wawrinka looks nervy when blazing a forehand wide but he responds with the shot of the match. Djokovic majestically flicked a forehand over the net but the Swiss replies with a cross-court half drop-volley (if that's a shot?) that left his opponent floundering. Wawrinka brings up two game points before conceding one of them with a double fault. He wastes the second by hooking a forehand long, and all of a sudden, Djokovic has a sniff of the set. He earns a set point when outfoxing the Swiss from inside the court, and the defending champion capitulates by dumping a forehand into the net.

It will be interesting to see how Wawrinka responds from that. He looked the stronger of the two players at the back end of the set but out of nowhere, his game let him down. Djokovic holds relatively comfortably to 15 and Wawrinka needs a hold in the next game.

BREAK! Wawrinka falls 0-30 behind after losing a 19-shot rally, but he halves the deficit with a well-directed serve out wide. A forehand winner earns 30-30 but he makes a mistake off the same wing to give Djokovic a break point. Wawrinka survives on that occasion, but after missing a couple of game points, Djokovic fights back and after a backhand slice ties Wawrinka up, he has the break at the start of the fourth. Big moment.

BREAK! Djokovic is four service holds away from a place in the final but a double fault lets Wawrinka in at 15-15. The defending champion is further encouraged when Djokovic nets a backhand, and he has two break-back points after another poor shot from the world number one. Unreal. Djokovic hits a sloppy backhand well long of the baseline and we are back on serve.

Wawrinka has made a catalogue of unforced errors in this match and he adds three more to the collection to concede three break points to Djokovic. He saves the first with a crushing forehand winner before he produces a piece of magic with a backhand drop volley that just creeps inside the court. Djokovic acknowledges it. The third is saved when Djokovic nets and the crowd are on their feet. They want to see a fifth set. The Swiss holds and that was some recovery.

At 15-15, Wawrinka looks in control of the next rally before firing the ball into the net. Djokovic is more authoritative in the following exchange and he forces Wawrinka to make the error for 40-15. A second serve gets the job done for the Serbian and the pressure is back on his opponent.

Wawrinka cracks his seventh backhand winner of the net to get to 30-0 but despite incredible retrieval skills, he can't get enough on a backhand to return a smash into court. The Swiss is really starting to unload and a flat forehand winner creates two game points. The Swiss is fortunate to avoid deuce after a weak second serve but the error sees the score level once again.

BREAK! My word. Two more mistakes from Djokovic gift Wawrinka 0-30 in a matter of seconds, before he blasts a backhand a couple of yards long of the baseline. The Swiss has three break points but he only requires one as Djokovic nets.

Wawrinka looks in the groove and he pummels his way into a 40-0 lead. Djokovic stays in the game when the defending champion goes long, but it's a momentary blip and Djokovic can't return a first serve.

Even if it's just to get a rhythm back before a fifth set, Djokovic needs a hold here and at 30-0, he is halfway there. Like in the previous game though, Wawrinka is going for his shots and he hits a cross-court forehand to reduce the lead, but Djokovic holds to force his opponent to serve for the fourth set.

SET! You can feel the tension in this game but it's Wawrinka who has the better of the opening three points in opening up a 30-15 lead. Djokovic then nets to give the defender two set points, and the first is taken with an inside-out forehand winner into the corner. We are going to a fifth and final set, but we all knew that was going to happen, right?

Wawrinka has the momentum going into the decider and when he gets to 15-30 on the Djokovic serve, he senses a chance to steal the advantage. The world number one fights back for game point but Wawrinka is showing that he can overpower Djokovic and he has deuce with another venomous backhand. More huge hitting from Wawrinka earns break point but he can't convert and Djokovic comes through with the hold.

BREAK! A double fault from Wawrinka hands 0-30 to Djokovic but the world number one nets on the next point. He should have done better with that. However, a second double fault of the game is conceded by Wawrinka and Djokovic has two chances to strike. The Swiss saves the first, but he goes for too much with a backhand and the world number one, like in the fourth, is 2-0 ahead at the start of the set.

Wawrinka takes the opening point, but Djokovic takes command of the next two rallies to put away back-to-back smashes. A meaty first serve is directed out by Wawrinka to give the Serbian two game points, which he takes when Wawrinka nets. Big service game coming up. wawrinka must hold.

BREAK! Wawrinka is still fighting but there is a lack of snap on some of his shots now. That is resulting in Djokovic making more balls and he opens up a 0-30 lead. The Swiss finds some inspiration though with a outswinging first serve as well as a neat volley at the net, but he's taken to deuce when he can't handle a return. Djokovic soon has break point and after Wawrinka sprays a backhand wide, the writing looks on the wall for the defending champion.

After the first two points are shared, Djokovic tests Wawrinka with a drop shot and he can't respond. The energy is quickly leaving the Swiss's legs, it seems. However, after Djokovic makes an error, Wawrinka middles a backhand down the line to earn a break point of his own, but it's saved with a first serve. Wawrinka may be tiring but he is showing plenty of resilience to remain in this match, but he can't break through and Djokovic is one game away from the final.

MATCH! With the winning line in sight, Djokovic is happy to unload from the baseline, but he twice misses the target to give a 30-15 lead to Wawrinka. He moves two points away with a perfection execution of a lob and that becomes match point with a stunning backhand down the line. Can Wawrinka survive? No he can't! Wawrinka goes wide and Djokovic is in the final.

After three-and-a-half hours, Novak Djokovic finally prevails through to another Australian Open final, and in doing so, ending the reign of last year's champion Stanislas Wawrinka. It didn't quite have the thrills and spills of the previous two offerings in Melbourne, but Djokovic won't mind.

The world number one will now play Andy Murray in Sunday's final. That will be played on Sunday at 8.30am, GMT. Be sure not to miss it! Goodbye for now.