Update: This match was played on Friday, January 24, 2025. In the United States, it was scheduled for 3:30 a.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. In Australia, Nine and free 9Now streaming carried the tournament. The match is now over: Alexander Zverev won the first set 7–6(5), and Novak Djokovic retired with a left-leg injury.
What was Djokovic vs Zverev?
Djokovic and Zverev met in the first men’s singles semifinal of the 2025 Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Djokovic was the No. 7 seed and Zverev the No. 2 seed. The winner was due to face the winner of Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton in the final.
The Australian Open’s official preview listed the match for Friday, January 24, with a scheduled start of not before 2:30 p.m. AEDT.
What time was the match?
The published times were:
| Location | Scheduled time |
|---|---|
| Melbourne | 2:30 p.m. AEDT, Friday, January 24 |
| U.S. Eastern | 3:30 a.m. ET, Friday, January 24 |
| U.S. Central | 2:30 a.m. CT |
| U.S. Mountain | 1:30 a.m. MT |
| U.S. Pacific | 12:30 a.m. PT |
| United Kingdom | Approximately 8:30 a.m. GMT |
| Central Europe | Approximately 9:30 a.m. CET |
The U.S. listing came from ESPN’s official schedule. “Not before” means the match was not expected to begin before the listed time. The preceding schedule could have caused a later start.
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How to watch in the United States
U.S. viewers could watch the semifinal through:
- ESPN: Television coverage, subject to the viewer’s TV package.
- ESPN Deportes: Spanish-language television coverage.
- ESPN+: Streaming coverage.
ESPN and ESPN+ were separate access routes. ESPN television streaming generally required authentication through a participating TV provider, while ESPN+ required an ESPN+ subscription. ESPN announced that every Australian Open match was available live on ESPN+ during the 2025 tournament, while selected coverage also appeared across ESPN’s television networks. See the ESPN tournament coverage announcement.
For the live broadcast, viewers could open the ESPN app or website, sign in, and search for “Australian Open,” “Djokovic vs Zverev” or “Men’s Semifinal.” If the event did not appear, the useful checks were to look specifically in the ESPN+ section, confirm authentication, and refresh the schedule shortly before the listed time.
How to watch in Australia
Nine’s Australian Open coverage was available on the Nine Network and through 9Now. Nine described 9Now as offering every point of every match live, free and in HD during the tournament.
Australian viewers could open 9Now, sign in or create an account if prompted, select the live Nine or Australian Open stream, and use the on-demand section for any available replay or highlights. Access could depend on location, account requirements and platform availability. The live event itself has ended.
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See Nine’s official Day 13 announcement for its 2025 coverage details.
How to watch in the UK and Europe
In many European markets, Australian Open coverage was handled through Eurosport and discovery+, but rights varied by country. A Spain-specific guide also identified Eurosport programming through Max and Movistar Plus+.
There was no single broadcaster arrangement for every European territory. Viewers should check the Australian Open’s local broadcaster information or the rights holder in their country before subscribing. Confirm whether the service includes the relevant replay, because live and on-demand rights can differ.
Country-specific access may require a subscription, sports add-on, TV-provider login, local payment method or local network location. A subscription bought in 2026 should not be assumed to include this 2025 semifinal.
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Was there a free legal stream?
In Australia, Nine explicitly described 9Now coverage as free. The available U.S. information identified ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ but did not verify a free U.S. stream. European access depended on each territory’s rights holder and subscription model.
Unofficial “free sports” sites and mirror streams are not reliable alternatives. They may carry malware, intrusive advertising, privacy risks or unauthorized broadcasts. Use the official broadcaster or tournament channels instead.
What happened in the match?
Zverev won the opening set 7–6(5). Djokovic then retired because of a left-leg injury, sending Zverev into his first Australian Open final. The match lasted approximately 81 minutes.
Read the Australian Open’s report on Djokovic’s retirement or its official Day 13 recap for the result.
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Replay and highlights
Because the semifinal took place in January 2025, there is no current live stream to access. An official replay may be available through the broadcaster that held rights in the viewer’s country, but replay windows can expire and may differ from live rights.
The Australian Open’s official YouTube channel published match-related video content. An official highlight or tiebreak clip is not necessarily a complete match replay, particularly because Djokovic retired after the first set.
Before purchasing a new ESPN+, discovery+ or other subscription solely for this match, confirm that the specific replay is included. Since the event is historical, an existing subscription or official highlights page may be more practical than buying access for one match.
Common points of confusion
- Date: It was Friday, January 24, 2025 in Melbourne and the United States, although some promotional listings described the preceding U.S. broadcast window as Thursday night.
- Start time: 2:30 p.m. AEDT and 3:30 a.m. ET were scheduled times, not guaranteed first-ball times.
- Match length: This was not a completed best-of-five-set contest; Djokovic retired after one set.
- Streaming rights: ESPN+ was a U.S. streaming route, while ESPN television access could require a separate TV-provider login.
- European coverage: Eurosport and discovery+ were relevant in many markets, not automatically every European country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time was Djokovic vs Zverev at the 2025 Australian Open?
It was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. AEDT on Friday, January 24, 2025, which was 3:30 a.m. ET in the United States. The listing was “not before,” so the actual start could have been later.
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Was Djokovic vs Zverev on ESPN+?
Yes. ESPN listed the semifinal on ESPN+, with television coverage also available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the United States.
Did Djokovic finish the semifinal?
No. Zverev won the first set 7–6(5), and Djokovic retired with a left-leg injury.
Where can I watch the match now?
The live broadcast has ended. Check the official broadcaster in your country for an available replay and the Australian Open’s official YouTube channel for highlights or match-related clips.
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