Novak Djokovic can’t believe it. He kneels on the blue surface of Rod Laver Arena, then slowly walks over to his chair and sits down, his head buried in his hands, trying to process what his body and mind have just endured. Four hours and nine minutes of fighting was finally over. It’s half past two in the morning in Melbourne and Djokovic has once again bent time to his will.
On Friday night, Djokovic refused to bow to form, logic or expectation, producing one of the most thrilling victories of his career, reaching an 11th Australian Open final and keeping alive his dream of a record 25th Grand Slam title. Defending champion Jannik Sinner, 38, survived 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a thrilling semi-final at Rod Laver Arena, snapping the Italian’s 19-match winning streak at Melbourne Park and ending the world number two’s five-match losing streak.
This was supposed to be Sinner’s moment. Younger, fresher and unbeaten in Melbourne, he arrived as the overwhelming favorite having beaten Djokovic in three Grand Slam semi-finals and dominated their recent rivalry. In contrast, Djokovic had shown flashes of vulnerability earlier in the fortnight and had been pushed hard in the previous rounds. But when it mattered most, he found something deeper.
The match developed from the beginning as a battle of endurance and nerves. Sinner struck first and took the opening set with controlled aggression. Djokovic responded by raising his level, extending his serve and drawing errors from the Italian. The momentum changed repeatedly, with neither player willing to give up as the match spilled into a decisive fifth set that was as much mental as it was physical.
With Djokovic serving for the match at 5-4 as the crowd chanted his name, the tension was almost unbearable – heightened by memories of Alexander Zverev’s earlier failure to close out his own semi-final from the same position. Match points came and went. Sinner conjured a winner from impossible positions. The two came and so did the doubt. Still, Djokovic, as he has done so often throughout his career, held his nerve. On his third match point, Sinner pushed a forehand wide and Djokovic raised his hands in silent disbelief.
At 38, he once again defied age, logic and the changing balance of the sport.
Formerly, Carlos Alcaraz has secured a place in his first Australian Open final after overcoming Zverev in a dramatic five-set encounter. The Spaniard now faces Djokovic on Sunday with history on the line for both men. Alcaraz is chasing the chance to become the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam. Djokovic is chasing something even bigger: an 11th final in Melbourne, a solo 25th major and another reminder that he remains, remarkably, at the center of sport’s biggest stage.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
January 30, 2026
