Tennis News

Djokovic defeats Sinner in five-set classic, returns to Australian Open final

Novak Djokovic turned back the clock once more in the early hours of Saturday morning at the Australian Open, where he snapped his five-match losing streak against Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic to move within one victory of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and an 11th in Melbourne.

Having dropped the opening set and then slipped two sets to one behind, the recent familiar narrative threatened to repeat itself for Djokovic, who lost in the semi-finals at all four majors in 2025. This time, however, the 38-year-old refused to yield, saving 16 of the 18 break points he faced in the four-hour and nine-minute thriller. Red-lining under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, he dragged himself back into the clash and outlasted the two-time defending champion 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a gripping semi-final battle.

“I am lost for words right now, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who is in his first major final since Wimbledon 2024. “It feels surreal to be honest. Playing for over four hours, it is nearly 2 am. Reminiscing about 2012 when I played Rafa in the final and that was almost six hours. The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extremely high and I knew that was the only way for me to win tonight against him. He won the past five matches against me. He had my mobile number, so I had to change my number for tonight.

“Jokes aside, I told him at the net, thanks for letting me have at least one [win]. I have tremendous respect for him, an incredible player. He pushes you to the very limit, which is what he did tonight to me, so he deserves a great round of applause… Tonight has been one of the best nights, if not the best night, atmosphere and support-wise, I have had in Australia.”

NOT. DONE. YET! 🤯@DjokerNole #AO26 pic.twitter.com/nfZo4EPMP8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2026

It marked Djokovic’s first five-set match since Roland Garros in 2024, when he survived against Francisco Cerundolo. Awaiting Djokovic in Sunday’s final is rival Carlos Alcaraz, who earlier endured the longest semi-final in Australian Open history, a five-hour, 27-minute marathon against Alexander Zverev, to reach his first championship match in Melbourne.

“I did watch [Alcaraz-Zverev]. I was very eager to get out on the court. What an incredible match,” Djokovic said. “We tried to match that quality and intensity, but credit to both of those guys, battling it out. I saw Carlos after the match and he told me ‘I am sorry to delay the start of your match’, and I told him I am an old man and I need to go earlier to sleep. I am looking forward to seeing him in a few days.”

Djokovic has not lifted a major trophy since the US Open in 2023, a drought underscored by the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, who have shared the past eight majors between them. The Italian and Spaniard had also contested the previous three Grand Slam finals, but Djokovic tore up that script on Friday, denying them the chance to become just the second pair in the Open Era to meet in four consecutive major finals, after Djokovic and Rafael Nadal between Wimbledon 2011 and Roland Garros 2012.

The Serbian will carry a narrow 5-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head advantage over Alcaraz into Sunday’s final, having beaten the Spaniard in the quarter-finals in Melbourne 12 months ago. Buoyed by his proactive, ruthless display against Sinner, Djokovic will also enter the title match the fresher of the two, having spent less time on court through a unique path to the final.

Djokovic won his opening three matches in straight sets, benefited from a fourth-round walkover against Jakub Mensik and advanced again when Lorenzo Musetti retired while leading by two sets in the quarter-finals. Into his 38th major final following his win, Djokovic is the oldest man in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open final. The No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has now earned a record 104 wins at the major, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Roger Federer is second on the list with 102.

In front of an electric Rod Laver Arena crowd, Sinner showed exactly why he had won his previous five meetings with Djokovic in the first set, producing a composed and authoritative display in the opener. The Italian struck 15 winners to Djokovic’s eight and dictated the majority of the baseline exchanges to take control.

Djokovic responded with urgency at the start of the second set, clawing back momentum. The 38-year-old converted his fourth break-point opportunity to move ahead 3–1, striking with renewed aggression and pinpoint accuracy down the line to force Sinner out of position and level the match.

Sinner wrestled back the initiative in the third, using his touch and variation to outmanoeuvre Djokovic while winning an imposing 90 per cent (18/20) of his first-serve points. Yet the Serbian refused to fade. In the fourth set, Djokovic penetrated Sinner’s defences with increasingly proactive hitting, upping the pace on his forehand beyond 140 km/h and saving two crucial break points at 4-3 to drag the contest into a deciding fifth set.

Djokovic then showcased why he is the champion he is in a tense decider. The 101-time tour-level titlist continued to swing away in the fifth set and saved all eight break points he faced, including three from 0/40 at 4-3. He conjured up some magic of his own on return to find the key breakthrough in the seventh game before holding out for a remarkable win.

Djokovic failed to convert either of his first two match points, with Sinner scrambling to stay alive on the backhand side to bring the scores back to deuce. However, it was third time lucky for the 38-year-old, who dropped to his knees shortly after sealing victory.

“It already feels like winning tonight, but I know I will have to come back in a couple of days and fight the number 1 in the world,” Djokovic said looking ahead to the final. “I hope I have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him, that is my desire.”

Did You Know?
It is the first time since Wimbledon 2018 that both men’s semi-finals have gone to five sets.

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Alcaraz: I’ll do ‘whatever it takes’ to be ready for Australian Open final

Carlos Alcaraz had to rouse every last ounce of energy to overcome Alexander Zverev on Friday in an Australian Open classic. After five hours and 27 minutes of back-and-forth semi-final action inside Rod Laver Arena, the Spaniard’s focus quickly turned to physical recovery for Sunday’s championship match.

The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz struggled with an injury in his upper right leg from the closing stages of the third set of his 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 triumph against Zverev. He later revealed he thought the problem was with his adductor muscle but expressed confidence that he would be raring to go for the title match against Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic.

“Well, obviously I feel tired,” said Alcaraz, who would become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam by lifting his maiden Australian Open title on Sunday, in his post-match press conference. “Obviously my body could be better, to be honest, but I think that’s normal after five hours and a half. [After the match] I just did whatever it takes just to try to be better, to feel better tomorrow. Ice bath… I’m going to have treatment with the physio now, and we will see.

“Hopefully it’s not going to be nothing at all, but after five-hours-and-a-half match and that high level of physically, I think the muscles are going to be tight, and I just got to do whatever it takes to be as good as I can for the final.”

The @carlosalcaraz mentality 🔥@AustralianOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/GmNYvBObdL

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2026

Against Zverev, Alcaraz could barely run for the tail end of the third set and much of the fourth, but loosened up in time to rally back from 3-5 in the decider to prevail in the longest semi-final in Australian Open history.

“This one was one of the more demanding matches that I have ever played in my career so far,” said the 22-year-old. “I think physically we just pushed each other to the limit today. We pushed our bodies to the limit. I think the level of the fifth set was really, really high.

“I’m just really, really happy to get the win, that I came back. I rank this one in the top position, [among] one of the best matches that I have ever won.”

Alcaraz is now 15-1 in fifth sets, and he has become the youngest man to reach the final at all four Grand Slam events. If he wants to go on to complete the Career Grand Slam on Sunday, he may need to reproduce some of the remarkable battling qualities he showcased to overcome Zverev.

“When I was younger, there were a lot of matches that I just didn’t want to fight anymore or just I gave up,” said the six-time major champion. “Then I just got mature, and I just hate that feeling… Every step more, even just one second more of suffering, one second more of fighting is always worth it. So that’s why I just fight until the last ball and always believe that I can come back in every situation.”

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Alcaraz beats Zverev in Australian Open classic

Carlos Alcaraz comes back from the brink of defeat to beat Alexander Zverev and reach his first Australian Open final.

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Zverev on five-set Alcaraz Australian Open defeat: 'We both went to our absolute limits'

So near, yet so far again for Alexander Zverev in his quest for major glory. The third-seeded German was just three points away from defeating Carlos Alcaraz in their Australian Open semi-final on Friday night, but was unable to close it out as Alcaraz rallied from 3-5 down in the fifth set to triumph.

In the aftermath of the five-hour, 27-minute loss, the longest semi-final in tournament history, a fatigued Zverev reflected on his latest Grand Slam heartbreak.

“Unbelievable fight, battle. Unfortunate ending for me, but to be honest, I had absolutely nothing left in me,” Zverev said.

“To be honest, I think I’m way too tired to have emotions right now, so like in two days, I’ll probably have more, but right now I’m just exhausted,” the German later continued. “I think we both went to our absolute limits, so somewhat I’m also proud of myself, the way I was hanging on and came back from two sets to love.

“Of course it’s disappointing, but this is the start of the year, so if I continue playing that way, if I continue training the way I train, if I continue working on the things that I’ve been working in the offseason, I do believe it’s going to be a good year for me.”

Zverev was chasing a fourth major final and a second consecutive Australian Open title match. Having rallied from two sets down, the 28-year-old looked poised to complete the comeback and hand Alcaraz just a second defeat in a fifth set.

However, the 28-year-old’s post-match regrets did not come from his inability to serve out at 5-4 but his lack of ruthlessness more than three hours earlier in the second set.

“The second set, that one, I felt like I should have won,” Zverev said. “Especially serving for it, I didn’t play a good game serving for it. Funny enough, I don’t have many regrets in the fifth set, because I was hanging on for dear life, to be honest. I was exhausted. But the second set. I think going up, being one set all, and him starting to cramp in the third set, that probably would have made a difference.”

Alcaraz struggled with physical issues deep in the third set but found a way to dig in during an exhilarating fifth set. The Spaniard now holds a 15-1 record in matches that have gone the distance but this was not a factor Zverev was overly concerned about during the decider.

“I know my five-set record is quite good, as well. But, no, of course not,” Zverev said. “It’s not something you think about 5-4 serving. I had other thoughts in my mind. Basically I didn’t want to fall over in the match.

“No, it’s not something I think about, but I know that he’s fit, I know that he’s very, very strong and hard to beat in long matches. He’s proven that last year in Paris, I think, as well against Jannik. I always feel like on the physical side I’m quite okay as well.”

Alcaraz now leads Zverev 7-6 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and will face Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.

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Alcaraz outlasts Zverev in record 5h27 SF marathon, reaches first Australian Open final

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his maiden Australian Open final in dramatic fashion on Friday afternoon, when he overcame physical problems and rallied from the brink to secure a marathon semi-final win against Alexander Zverev.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Alcaraz overcame World No. 3 Zverev 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 after a pulsating five hours, 27 minutes inside Rod Laver Arena, the longest semi-final in tournament history. After appearing to recover from the upper right leg injury that hampered him from late in the third set, the Spaniard rallied from 3-5 in the decider and collapsed to the ground in ecstasy after sealing his first final appearance in Melbourne. He will take on Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic on Sunday for the trophy.

“Believing, all the time,” said Alcaraz in his on-court interview, when asked how he won the match. “I always say you have to believe in yourself, no matter if you are struggling or what you have been through. No matter about anything, you still have to believe in yourself all the time. I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most demanding matches that I have played in my short career.

“I have been in these kinds of situations and I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match. I think I did it and I fought until the last ball. I knew I was going to have my chances. I am extremely proud of myself with the way that I fought and came back in the fifth set.”

A BATTLE ROYALE 🫡@carlosalcaraz outlasts Zverev in a battle lasting five hours and 27 minutes to reach his first @AustralianOpen final.#AO26 pic.twitter.com/a6SjWQHxCc

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2026

With his victory, Alcaraz moved within one win of becoming the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam (winning the singles title at all four majors). Standing between Alcaraz and that piece of history, however, is a heavyweight showdown with one of his great rivals. World No. 2 Sinner is the two-time defending champion at Melbourne Park, while Djokovic is a record 10-time Australian Open titlist.

“I am really happy to play my first final in Melbourne,” Alcaraz said. “It was something I was chasing a lot, pursuing a lot. Having the chance to fight for the title. I think it has been a great tournament so far and my level is increasing a lot. But one thing I think I am going to say is I could not be here doing this interview right now without [the fans]. It was a pleasure playing in front of all of you. The way you pushed me back in the match… I am really grateful for the support.”

Alcaraz won 78 per cent (35/45) of points at the net in his epic win, according to Infosys Stats. The 22-year-old is now 15-1 in fifth sets, while he has also taken a 7-6 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Zverev. Meanwhile Friday’s agonising defeat leaves the 28-year-old Zverev still chasing his maiden Grand Slam title.

Alcaraz, who had not dropped a set across his opening five matches in Melbourne, appeared on course to maintain his perfect run after opening a two-set lead against Zverev. The top seed produced typically classy tennis when he needed it most, particularly when he rallied from 2-5 to clinch the second set.

It was at 4-4, 15/15 in the third set when the real drama began. Alcaraz appeared to pull up and struggle with an upper right leg injury when serving at 4-4 in the third set. He twice received treatment from the tournament physio, and he was unable to stop Zverev from clawing his way back into the match from there.

Alcaraz’s approach of playing ultra aggressively to shorten rallies was competitive, but appeared to not be enough. Zverev broke his opponent’s serve in the opening game of the deciding set and, after fending off five break points across three of his service games, was soon serving for the match at 5-4.

Then came Alcaraz’s scarcely believable comeback. Moving freely again, the Spaniard reeled off four games in a row to stun his rival and become the youngest man to reach the final at all four Grand Slams. On match point, Alcaraz powered a forehand low into the encroaching Zverev, before falling to his back in ecstasy as the German’s volley dropped into the net.

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Alcaraz eyes ATP No. 1 Club feat in Melbourne

History suggests that World No. 1s have often thrived at the Australian Open, a precedent that Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to uphold as he sits two wins from his maiden Melbourne crown and bids to become the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Eight members of the prestigious ATP No. 1 Club have combined for 16 Australian Open titles while simultaneously holding the top spot in the PIF ATP Rankings. Alcaraz’s great rival Jannik Sinner accomplished the feat last season, the second player to do so in the past five years (Novak Djokovic, 2021).

Players To Win AO As World No. 1

Record 10-time champion Djokovic has lifted the AO trophy six times as World No. 1, the most of any player. He first completed the feat in 2012, finishing that edition with an instant classic five-hour, 53-minute final victory against Rafael Nadal. The Serbian most recently won in Melbourne as World No. 1 in 2021.

Alcaraz, 22, has reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne in each of the past two seasons. Should the Spaniard go all the way to the title, he would join Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal as the only players to be World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings at the time of their first Australian Open trophy.

Alcaraz’s lone major triumph while holding No. 1 honours came in 2023 at Wimbledon, where he outlasted Djokovic in a five-set final to end the Serbian’s 34-match winning streak at the All England Club. In 2022, Alcaraz won his maiden major title at the US Open and became World No. 1 following that victory. At age 19, Alcaraz became the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history.

Alcaraz added to his major title count in 2025, reigning victorious at Roland Garros and at the US Open, defeating Sinner in both finals. In New York, Alcaraz not only earned the champion’s trophy, but also regained the No. 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings, ending Sinner’s 65-week debut reign.

A six-time major champion, Alcaraz holds an 16-4 match record at the Australian Open, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, entering his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. Last year, Alcaraz fell to Djokovic in a four-set quarter-final thriller after three hours and 37 minutes.

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Why Djokovic's legendary return will be critical in his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic is widely regarded as one of the best returners in tennis history. The Serbian has won a higher percentage of return games than any active player and has put the best servers under pressure throughout his career.

The 38-year-old will need to bring his very best returning to Rod Laver Arena on Friday evening if he hopes to snap a five-match losing streak against two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis shows that the return — long one of the Serbian’s greatest strengths — has been where he has struggled against Sinner in their recent showdowns.

The Italian leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 6-4, including five straight victories dating back to Sinner’s Davis Cup victory in November 2023. The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings can become the first player to win six consecutive tour-level matches against Djokovic.

But the 10-time Australian Open champion can make a good start in fending off that history by relying on his trademark return. During his losing streak against Sinner, the 24-time major champion has not broken serve more than twice in a match and in two of his defeats, he did not earn a break point.

Djokovic has broken twice from eight chances across 61 return games in his past four meetings with Sinner, winning just 3.3 per cent of his return games in those encounters. That is a far cry from the Serbian’s longtime excellence on return.

Djokovic has proven to hold the Kryptonite for the best servers in the world throughout the years. Entering the Australian Open, Djokovic had won 31.6 per cent of return games for his career, the seventh-best mark on record. From 2009 through 2021, the 101-time tour-level titlist won at least 30 per cent of his return games each season, including an astonishing 38.8 per cent in 2011. Each year since 2021, he has finished sixth or better on Tour.

Career Return Games Won % – Active Players

So far at this edition of the Australian Open, Djokovic has won 36 per cent of his return games, breaking 18 times from 50 games. Those matches did not come against a player like Sinner, who has led the ATP Tour in percentage of service games won in each of the past two seasons, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

But it is still a positive sign for Djokovic, who has won a higher rate of first-serve return points this fortnight than fellow semi-finalists Sinner (32%), Carlos Alcaraz (35%) and Alexander Zverev (32%).

With that said, Djokovic is aware of the challenge in front of him, especially from Sinner and Alcaraz, who have swept the past eight majors.

“Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. I mean, the quality and the level is amazing. It’s great. It’s phenomenal,” Djokovic said after advancing to the semi-finals. “But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. I’m going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.”

Vintage returning will be key to doing just that.

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More than the Score

Naomi Osaka’s ‘jellyfish’ entrance outfit gets us talking about sport and fashion

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Raducanu splits with ninth coach after Australian Open exit

British number one Emma Raducanu splits with coach Francis Roig after her exit from the Australian Open.

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Old King, New Order: Djokovic & Sinner set for Australian Open SF blockbuster

There are nights at Melbourne Park when the future knocks loudly on the door, and others when history refuses to move aside. Friday’s Australian Open semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner promises a collision of both.

Sinner, the two-defending champion, is aiming to join Djokovic as the only men in the Open Era to win three consecutive titles in Melbourne, but the 38-year-old — who boasts a record 10 trophies — still refuses to loosen his grip on his most successful tournament. Their clash is slated for 7:30 p.m. local time / 3:30 a.m. EST.

Although the Australian Open remains Djokovic’s domain, Sinner has won his past five Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings against the Serbian, including straight-sets victories in the semi-finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon last season.

🎾Sinner vs Djokovic🧐

Our comparison shows the data from the players 52-week averages on the ATP Tour📊#TennisInsights | @atptour pic.twitter.com/na5En88Gfw

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) January 29, 2026

Sinner, for his part, has been quick to frame the contest with respect and perspective.

“It’s great to have Novak playing at this level,” Sinner said of Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th major title. “It’s a Grand Slam, it’s always very difficult against Novak… He is, I think, the most professional athlete we have here in the locker room. I also try to be as professional as possible.

“He has a huge package of experience with himself. He knows how to handle every situation the best possible way. As a 24-year-old, I’m lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes, and I can hopefully learn something. I feel like every day, every time he plays, I can learn something about him, about Carlos, about all the other great, great players.”

“I think the way he’s playing, the way he’s moving, if you are not professional, you don’t play at this level. He’s an inspiration to all of us and especially the young players.”

Sinner’s evolution has been underpinned by ruthless baseline efficiency and improved point-ending instincts, qualities that have repeatedly troubled Djokovic in recent meetings. The 24-year-old’s ability to take time away has neutralised the Serbian’s famed defensive elasticity.

For Djokovic to turn the tide and book his spot in an 11th Australian Open final, the tactical demands are steep. Variety will be essential, as it was during the latter stages of his Roland Garros campaign last year but, above all, Djokovic must impose uncertainty.

The No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, knows the scale of the challenge.

“He’s just playing on such a high level right now, along with Carlos. They’re the two best players in the world,” Djokovic said. “[They are] absolute favourites, but you never know… Hopefully I can deliver my A-game for that matchup, because that’s what’s going to be needed at least to have a chance.”

Last year, Djokovic produced a stirring quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne before the Spaniard later exacted revenge en route to the US Open crown. Sinner and Alcaraz have split the past eight major titles, shaping a rivalry many believe will define the next era.

But Djokovic has never measured himself by trends.

“Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are,” Djokovic admitted. “The quality and the level is amazing. It’s great. It’s phenomenal. But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No.”

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