In a night of remarkable perseverance at Melbourne, Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open final by narrowly defeating Jannik Sinner in a demanding five-set encounter. This victory halts the streak of two players blocking Djokovic’s bid for his 25th Grand Slam singles title. Awaiting him in the championship match is Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament's top-seeded player, who conquered Alexander Zverev in an equally intense and lengthy five-set semifinal.
The final scheduled for Sunday represents a historic opportunity for both competitors. Djokovic, a veteran force on the circuit, is chasing a record-breaking 25th major title, while Alcaraz, a 22-year-old prodigy, aspires to become the youngest male player ever to complete a career Grand Slam.
Speaking to reporters late Friday, Djokovic reflected on the high stakes of the final. "There’s always, for me, also for Carlos because of his age and everything he’s achieved, history is on the line for both of us," he said. "Finals of a Grand Slam. There’s a lot at stake."
Alcaraz's semifinal against Zverev, which lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes, became the longest semifinal in Australian Open history. Despite suffering cramps and a sore right leg during the match, Alcaraz managed to edge out Zverev with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5. This hard-fought victory delayed the start of Djokovic’s match against Sinner by approximately two hours.
Djokovic's match extended into the early hours of the morning, concluding just after 1:30 a.m. with a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Sinner. The 38-year-old two-time defending champion described his four-hour and nine-minute triumph as "surreal," equating the win to a Grand Slam victory itself. "Honestly, it feels like winning already tonight," Djokovic remarked. He acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasizing the need to conserve energy for the showdown against the world No. 1. "I just hope that I’ll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him," he added.
Djokovic admitted he was fortunate to have reached the semifinals at all. His progress was marred by a near-default incident in the third round for a reckless shot almost making contact with a ball girl. He then received a walkover in the fourth round and was trailing by two sets in the quarterfinals against Lorenzo Musetti until the Italian retired due to a right leg injury.
In overcoming Sinner, DJokovic demonstrated peak form both offensively and defensively. He successfully defended 16 of the 18 breakpoints he faced, effectively restricting Sinner’s chances. This victory ended Djokovic’s losing streak against Sinner, which included five defeats and four semifinal losses at major events. Sinner expressed disappointment, citing missed opportunities as the reason for his defeat.
Since Djokovic’s last major title at the 2023 US Open, the two young players, Alcaraz and Sinner, have alternated in capturing eight major titles, underscoring their dominance at the highest level. Nonetheless, Djokovic remains unparalleled at Melbourne Park, boasting a perfect 10-0 record in Australian Open finals.
Throughout the tournament, Djokovic has acknowledged the superior level of competition offered by Alcaraz and Sinner. Nonetheless, he has maintained unwavering confidence in his own capabilities. "I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself," he affirmed, addressing critics who prematurely questioned his future. "There’s a lot of people that doubted me ... a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me. I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong, which I have tonight."
The men’s semifinals marked a rare alignment, with the top four seeds all reaching this stage for only the fifth time in Australian Open history. The matchups delivered a compelling mixture of drama and endurance as both semifinals extended through five sets, lasting a combined total of 9 hours and 36 minutes.
Alcaraz's contest against Zverev surpassed the previous record for the longest Australian Open semifinal, set in 2009 by Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco. During the match, Alcaraz encountered significant physical challenges, including severe pain in his upper right leg. The discomfort prompted a medical timeout, which became a subject of contention. Alcaraz explained that the pain did not initially register as cramping but localized to the right adductor muscle, necessitating this evaluation.
Despite his condition, Alcaraz persevered through the third and fourth sets, even after falling behind early in the fifth set. He successfully reclaimed momentum and ultimately won the final four games against Zverev, who was serving for the match. Reflecting on the experience, Alcaraz ranked the victory among the most outstanding matches of his career. "Physically we pushed each other to the limit today. We pushed our bodies to the limit," he said.
Alcaraz also spoke to his mindset, emphasizing persistence and heart as key factors in his victory. "I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it," he stated. His opponent Zverev, though upset about the medical timeout incident during the third set, chose not to let that overshadow what he described as one of the best contests ever seen in Australia.