Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final after a stunning five-set victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner early Saturday.
The 38-year-old Serb rolled back the years to defeat Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. The marathon semi-final ended at 1:32 am at Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic will now play top seed Alcaraz in Sunday’s title decider in Melbourne.
A win in the final would give Djokovic a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. It would move him clear of Margaret Court, who currently shares the all-time mark of 24 majors. Djokovic last lifted a Grand Slam trophy at the US Open in 2023. Since then, Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the men’s game.
🎾 🇦🇺 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final after stunning reigning two-time champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday in a five-set marathon 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to move to the brink of history pic.twitter.com/GM5V8OA2k5
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 30, 2026Sinner Starts Fast in Melbourne
Sinner, chasing a third straight Australian Open title, began strongly. He broke Djokovic early and raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The Italian’s serve and groundstrokes were sharp as he closed out the first set with confidence.
Djokovic responded in the second set with renewed intensity. He broke serve for a 3-1 lead and saved three break points to stay ahead. A fierce cross-court forehand sealed the set and levelled the match.
Midway through the third set, Djokovic showed signs of discomfort. He briefly clutched his chest and appeared to struggle physically. Sinner took advantage and claimed the set after breaking serve at 5-4.
Vintage Djokovic topples Sinner in five sets to set up Alcaraz final in Melbourne
➡️ https://t.co/j5LcUlDvnu pic.twitter.com/rv7yCCDSQN
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) January 30, 2026Veteran Grit Turns the Match
Despite the setback, Djokovic refused to fade. He broke Sinner early in the fourth set as the match stretched past midnight.
The contest went to a tense deciding fifth set. Sinner missed several chances to break, and Djokovic stayed composed. The Serb struck decisively for a 4-3 break. He then held serve to move within a game of victory. Sinner saved two match points at 4-5. Djokovic finally sealed the win on his third opportunity.
Djokovic is the most successful player in Australian Open history. He has won the title 10 times at Melbourne Park.
Earlier in the tournament, he benefited from injuries to his opponents. Lorenzo Musetti retired during their quarter-final, while Jakub Mensik withdrew before their fourth-round match.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals of all four majors last year. However, he failed to progress further in any of them. Sunday’s final now offers him a chance at history.
