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Aslan Karatsev's golden run has come to a shuddering halt at the Australian Open, world No.1 Novak Djokovic winning their semi-final in straight sets.

Eight isn't enough for Novak Djokovic.

The world No.1 continued his love affair with Melbourne Park and will be a warm favourite to win his ninth Australian Open title after bringing to an end the extraordinary run of Aslan Karatsev in the semi-finals.

Djokovic downed the Russian qualifier 6-3 6-4 6-2 in one hour and 55 minutes to set up a title decider with the winner of Friday's match between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"This is the best I felt in the entire tournament," said Djokovic who picked up an apparent abdominal injury in the third round.

"I felt great. This is the best match so far and it came at the right time."

Outplayed but rarely outgunned, world No.114 Karatsev is projected to rise to No.42 after becoming the first grand slam debutant to make the semi-finals in the Open Era.

It had been a barely believable run from the muscular Muscovite, winning through three qualifying matches in Doha and another five in Melbourne to make the last four.

The ending was perhaps predictable but the scoreline didn't reveal the true nature of the contest, Karatsev refusing to be bullied by the 17-time grand slam champion.

He went toe-to-toe with Djokovic for much of the first set, catching the world No.1 out on more than one occasion with his late shot selection and powerful forehand.

A break in the eighth game was enough to seal the set for Djokovic and he put the foot down with two more in the second.

But the 27-year-old didn't become the first grand slam semi-finalist ranked outside the top 100 in 20 years without showing considerable backbone.

He broke back once and held another break point to bring the match back on serve but couldn't quite pull it off as Djokovic made it two sets to love.

The third followed a similar pattern - Djokovic breaking only for Karatsev to manhandle his way back into the contest - before the 33-year-old closed down the match.

"There is a huge level, I mean the difference is really big," said Karatsev of stepping up to play one of the game's all-time greats as opposed to players in and around the top 20.

"He doesn't give you free points. On my serve it's like every point you have to take, you have to play the rally."

While it has been far from plain sailing for Djokovic - who was injured against Taylor Fritz in a five-set third round, lost another three sets and at times has battled the crowd and his own demons - he'll be the favourite regardless of who he plays in the decider.

"The way I felt today I like my chances and I'm definitely going to go for a title," Djokovic said.

He's already a record eight from eight in Australian Open finals and it will take something special to prevent it from becoming a perfect nine.