Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the first of our semi finals from the 2020 ATP Tour finals. It’s world number one, Novak Djokovic against US Open champion, Dominic Thiem. It’s a repeat of this year’s epic Australian Open final and should be a cracker.

Some insightful thoughts on Djoker being broken after losing four points at the net on his serve.

SET! - DJOKOVIC 5-7 THIEM. The US Open champion takes a cagey opener as he serves it out to 15 in 51 minutes.

BREAK! - DJOKOVIC 5-6 THIEM. The Dominator strikes! He rises to the occasion on the key moment at 30-30 when he finds that rasping forehand that has misfired a few times this afternoon. It creates a first break point that Djoker does everything to save before a woeful volley at the net hands the Austrian the chance to serve for the opener.

DJOKOVIC 5-5 THIEM. Domi produces his best when it matters to reach parity, but he is having some jittery moments. He initially avoids some intense pressure with the shot of the match. Novak sinks his teeth in at 30-15 and looks set to win the point. He charges to the net but Thiem conjures up a forehand lob that lands by the postage stamp. The Austrian then double faults and misses an easy crosscourt forehand, but recovers with some big serving to get the job done from deuce.

DJOKOVIC 5-4 THIEM. Frustration for Thiem as a bold second serve at 0-15 helps Djokovic avoid another nervy moment. There’s no room for error now. Thiem must hold to stay in the set.

DJOKOVIC 4-4 THIEM. We are at the business end of the set, but the Dominator doesn’t show it. He powers through a perfect hold as they continue to go toe to toe.

DJOKOVIC 4-3 THIEM. The world number three recognises the need to start posing more questions of his own. He gets off to a flyer at 0-30 but sizzles an inch long of the baseline to just miss out on double break point. A classy stun volley then gets Djokovic out of a tricky predicament.

DJOKOVIC 3-3 THIEM. Clutch. Thiem flashes two unforced errors off court and puts himself under unnecessary pressure. He shows just why he’s being hailed as a rival for Nadal when it comes to fighting out of a corner and keeps Nole at bay to cling on and level from deuce.

DJOKOVIC 3-2 THIEM. It’s warming up nicely but yet to ignite. After some dominance on serve we are starting to get the occasional rally reminiscent of the blockbusting exchanges we saw at this event last year. The five-time champion never looks in danger here though. He drops just the one point as he nudges the board once more.

DJOKOVIC 2-2 THIEM. That’s brilliant serving from Thiem as he charges through to a rapid love hold. No glimmer of a chance there for the top seed.

DJOKOVIC 2-1 THIEM. The world number one is looking sharp just as he has done in the early stages of his last two matches. Thiem will hope to hang tight like Medvedev did and grow into the encounter without suffering any set threatening blows.

DJOKOVIC 1-1 THIEM. Early danger for Thiem as he’s made to pay catch up after a poor miss off the forehand. Djokovic senses the chance at 15-30, but the Austrian plays some clutch tennis, gliding a wonderful volleyed winner along the way to a plucky hold.

DJOKOVIC 1-0 THIEM. It’s nip and tuck and a promising start. No surprise to see both players scurrying around and engaging in some powerhouse exchanges from the baseline as Novak edges the game to 30.

Thiem has emerged as one of the best hard-court hitters on the planet. He was always hailed as the heir to Nadal's clay throne, but it's on hard where he has had his big breakthrough moments with major silverware.

OPINION: After all of the off-court political chat earlier in the week, Djokovic needs to put it to one side and keep his scope firmly on his trophy targets.

Djokovic: “I have lots of respect for Dominic, his game, his work ethic. Nico Massu, all his team, they’re all very nice people. They’re very dedicated and humble. He’s a Grand Slam champion, so obviously that’s a huge boost for him, getting that kind of pressure and expectation off his back so I’m sure that allows him to swing freely on the court and play better than he did before.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Djoker leads the match-up 7-4 but it is 2-2 over the course of the last two years and 1-1 on indoor hard courts. Thiem defeated the Serb 6-7 6-3 7-6 in an enthralling round-robin match here last year on his way to finishing as runner-up. Can he make it back-to-back finals or will Nole stay on course for that record-equalling sixth title?