'No secrets' - Thiem and Zverev battle for first Aussie final

Dominic Thiem says there are "no secrets" between him Alexander Zverev as they prepare for a battle of "small margins" to make an Australian Open final for the first time.

The fifth seed faces his good friend on Friday after stunning world number one Rafael Nadal in the last eight, with a crack at either seven-time champion Novak Djokovic or six-time winner Roger Federer at stake.

Thiem and Zverev have played each other eight times, with the Austrian holding a 6-2 advantage, including their last two encounters. They have never been forced into a five-setter.

"We have no secrets from each other. I mean, we played so many times, also on very special occasions already, at the ATP Finals, semis, French Open quarters," said the 26-year-old.

"It's a nice rivalry we have. It's great that we add an Australian Open semi-finals to this one. Going to be a close match again."
- Bushfire pledge -
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"I am always going to do everything I can to win tennis matches, to at least do the best thing I can on the tennis court when I'm playing in front of people, just to have respect in front of the crowd."