Novak Djokovic has made it to the Australian Open final for the 11th time in his career after defeating World Number 2 Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. In a match that lasted over five hours, the 38-year-old Djokovic faced a stern test from the ever-challenging and unrelenting Sinner.
Sinner started the game well, taking the first set 6-3 as it looked like he was about to repeat what happened in the semifinals back in 2024.
Djokovic responded by taking the second set to level the match. By the end of the second set, it was already clear that fans were in for a long and entertaining contest.
Sinner bounced back to regain the lead with a brilliant 6-4 win in the third set, but Djokovic allowed his experience to shine through. He dug deep to claim the next two sets 6-4, 6-4, ending any possibility of Jannik Sinner winning the Australian Open three years in a row.
Djokovic will now face Carlos Alcaraz, who also overcame Alexander Zverev in a long, gruelling five-hour encounter to book his first Australian Open final appearance.
Alcaraz will come up against a true Australian Open master on Sunday, as Djokovic has never lost a final down under. The Serb has played in 10 finals and won all 10, with his most recent triumph coming in 2023.
Djokovic holds the advantage over Alcaraz in their head-to-head record, but their most recent meeting came at an ATP tournament last year, where Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the semifinals.
Djokovic will take encouragement from the fact that he saw off the Spaniard in Australia last year at the quarterfinal stage. It promises to be a brilliant final on Sunday.
