Zverev backs Thiem to trouble Djokovic in Australian final

Zverev believes Thiem is playing well enough to trouble Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Alexander Zverev believes Dominic Thiem is playing well enough to trouble seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final after his victory over four tough sets on Friday.

Zverev, the seventh seed, took the first set against fifth-ranked Thiem but the Austrian s supreme fitness and greater experience helped him win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4).

Zverev, 22, who was gunning to became the youngest man in a Grand Slam final since Andy Murray in Melbourne in 2010, said two-time French Open finalist Thiem was playing some of his best tennis.

"I think he has a chance in the finals, if he s physically fine. He did play a lot of long matches. But, yeah, we ll see," he said.

"He s playing the best tennis of his life. I think he s playing much better than he played in London (at the ATP Finals), to be honest."

Thiem beat Zverev in the last four at the season-ending ATP Finals, only to lose to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the title match.

Thiem knocked out Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals but he will need to lift again to beat Djokovic in the final on Sunday, with the Serb on a 12-match unbeaten streak this season.

Zverev admitted he didn t play his best at crunch moments Friday and it cost him dearly as he exited the Australian Open after his best ever performance at a Grand Slam.

He noted that he had 14 break point chances and only converted five of them.

"I had a lot of chances. I had 14 break points. That should be plenty. In the important moments, I didn t play my best. He did," he said.

"That s where the match kind of went his way. We ve had a lot of tight moments, four tight sets. In the third set I had set points. In the fourth set, I had chances. I ve just got to execute better next time."

Despite his disappointment, it was the furthest he had got in 19 Grand Slams, with a more relaxed approach helping him achieve the feat, something he said would bode well in the future.

"I mean, it was a great tournament, great match today," he said.

"I came to this tournament different after not playing my best. I went step by step, match by match. Usually I didn t do that in Grand Slams.

"Maybe I can take that away, but right now I m still a little bit disappointed about the match."

Zverev had pledged $10,000 for each of his wins to the victims of Australia s bushfires, as well as all Aus$4.12 million ($2.83 million) if he won the final on Sunday.

"Unfortunately I could not make it happen with all the prize money," he said. "As I said, I will keep my promise. I will donate the $50,000 and hope that can help a little bit."