Novak Djokovic maybe again he fell short of the elusive number 25but at 38, he reminded that his biggest rivals from the current era, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, are still not going through this era without problems.
The duopoly, Djokovic shouted aloud, can be shaken.
His run to the final of the inaugural Australian Open was proof.
For Djokovic and those who still believe, Sunday in Melbourne may have been more encouraging than some of his Grand Slam victories.
That sounds weird. But at 38, Djokovic is doing things that many in sports and no one in men’s tennis have ever done.
Let’s rewind it.
A few months ago, it almost looked like Djokovic had given up. That’s not him. Yet he was there he acknowledged the widening gulf between him and the two men who dominated men’s tennis. Alcaraz and Sinner have won all eight Grand Slams in the past two years between them.
Since winning the US Open in 2023, Djokovic has reached just one Grand Slam final. In 2025, he failed to get past the semifinals of any of the four majors. And when Alcaraz hammered him in straight sets in New York, Djokovic sounded aggrieved – a tone he rarely heard from him.
He was still great. Still dangerous. #3 best in the world.
But in the end, time seemed to win, even against a man who had once bent it to his will. The Sincarazu era seemed inevitable.
The most telling moment came after his semifinal defeat in New York.
“In the future, it will be very difficult for me to overcome the obstacle of Sinner and Alcaraz in the best-of-five at the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance in the best-of-3, but the best-of-fi, it is difficult,” he said after the exit from the US Open.
He emphasized that he is not giving up. But the tone was subdued, almost dubious — as if the pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title might never be finished.
BUT, DJOKOVIC IS DJOKOVIC
At the age of 38, Djokovic reached the final of the Australian Open (Photo Reuters)
After missing the pre-season, he arrived in Melbourne with quiet hope – and very little outward belief. The conversation revolved around Alcaraz’s bid for a career Grand Slam and Sinner’s pursuit of a third straight Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
Djokovic was placed on Sinner’s half. His presence was barely spoken of as a threat.
Yet there he was again the second week. A fourth-round transition gave him an extended layoff. Then came the escape. Down two sets against Lorenzo Musetti and battling the Italian’s heavy rotation, Djokovic was on the brink before injury forced Musetti to retire.
It wasn’t the way he would have written it. But it kept him alive.
In the semifinals, the world number one was waiting – ruthless, fresh and dominant. Even Djokovic said it himself.
Scroll back.
“It will be very difficult for me”
However, it was just very difficult for Djokovic. Not impossible.
He defeated Sinner in five.
Djokovic lost the first set 3-6 at Rod Laver Arena on a day when Alcaraz and Sinner had already prevailed five hours earlier. Sinner seemed eager to end things quickly.
Djokovic refused.
He leveled the match, leveled rallies, crushed forehands and found depth that forced Sinner’s game into doubt – something Melbourne hadn’t seen in years. It felt like a comeback. Vintage Djokovic. A reminder of why Sinner is often described as a younger version of the machine Djokovic once was.
Djokovic lost the third set. Then he dug deeper.
He reached into an endless reservoir of sand and experience and dragged himself across the line in five. He collapsed onto the court and celebrated as if he had won the tournament itself.
In a way, he won something.
Unlike the other members of the Big Three, Djokovic always had to prove people wrong. He was eliminated again and is heading to the finals. If Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal beat Sinner at 38, belief would follow. Djokovic did not get this luxury.
THE CHALLENGE OF ALCARAZ
Djokovic lost to Alcaraz in the final of the Australian Open in four sets (Photo Reuters)
Sunday came quickly. Less recovery time. Age difference of 16 years.
Still, Djokovic struck first.
Alcaraz dismantled 6-2 in 33 minutes. For a fleeting stretch, it looked like 2011 again. The biggest comeback the sport has seen made Alcaraz’s serve look ordinary. Forehands were flying. Confidence has increased.
Eventually the legs faded.
Playing one of the most mature Grand Slam finals of his career, Alcaraz did not panic – unlike in the Paris Olympics final, where he unraveled after losing the opening set to the same opponent. This time he remained patient. He extended the meeting. He worked side by side with Djokovic. He hit a backhand cross down the line instead, forcing Djokovic to run – and run – at 38.
Djokovic ran out of breath. But not faith.
Because this run told him something.
Hard, yes. Very difficult.
Not impossible.
And he said it himself.
“I knew I’d probably have to beat two of them on my way to the title. I beat one, which is great. It’s a step further from where I was at Grand Slams than last year. Very nice and encouraging, but not enough for me. I’ll keep pushing and see if I get another chance.”
In 2008, at the age of 22, Novak Djokovic broke the Federer-Nadal duopoly that had won 11 consecutive Grand Slam titles; in 2026, at age 38, he faces another, trying to prove that, for him at least, the impossible is never final—the Benjamin Button of the baseline, who continues to age as the sport expects him to fade.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 2, 2026