Novak Djokovic and that coveted Grand Slam No 25 is within touching distance, but he will have to overcome top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who is striving to become the youngest-ever man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz and Sinner have split the last eight major titles between them since Djokovic won his last title at the 2023 US Open.
Nobody knows how to win in Australia more than Djokovic having won all 10 times he’s contested the final so holding aloft the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup at Melbourne Park, where he claimed his first major trophy in 2008, would be a fitting coup de grace for a 20-year career at the top.
Djokovic finally beat one of the two men who have been blocking his path to an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title when he dethroned two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in five sets in Friday’s semi-final.
“I never stopped doubting,” said the Serbian as he spoke to the media in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena at nearly 3am.
“I never stopped believing in myself. There’s a lot of people that doubt me. I see there is a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me or have retired me many times the last couple of years.
“I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong.”
Alcaraz, meanwhile, had to come through a gruelling five-setter of his own when he fended off Alexander Zverev in a match that lasted five hours and 27 minutes, becoming the longest semi-final in Australian Open history.
“It feels surreal,” Djokovic said of his triumph. “Honestly, it feels like winning already tonight. I know I have to come back and fight the number one of the world. I just hope that I’ll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him.
“That’s my desire. Let the God decide the winner.”
Records on the line
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Novak Djokovic admitted Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, are too strong across a best-of-five match but vowed to keep fighting for Grand Slams after he exited the US Open
Having taken Ken Rosewall’s record as the oldest man to reach the final by beating Sinner, Djokovic can top the Australian again as the oldest to win any Grand Slam title.
But he may need all the support on Rod Laver Arena as he looks to scale another Everest against world No 1 Alcaraz.
With two trophies at each of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, victory over Djokovic would make Alcaraz the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam, eclipsing Don Budge, who wrapped up his at the 1938 French Open two days before his 23rd birthday.
He would also become the first men’s player under 23 to win seven Grand Slam titles, a tally that eluded Djokovic until he was 27.
Facing a man who will turn 39 in a few months, Alcaraz should be better equipped to handle the long slog.
Boasting incredible athleticism and arguably the game’s purest shot-making, he will believe that his talents will get the job done.
But try telling that to 24-year-old Sinner, whose hopes of a fifth Grand Slam title were crushed as Djokovic pummelled him from the baseline.
Among all Djokovic’s incredible achievements, this was right up there among the best of them, and, if he can beat Alcaraz, it will be one of the most remarkable sporting stories of all time.
“History is on the line for both of us every time we play,” added Djokovic, who has won all of his 10 previous finals at Melbourne Park.
“The finals of a Grand Slam, there’s a lot at stake, but it’s no different from any other big match that I play. My preparation is as it should be, and I won against him last year here, also in a gruelling match.
“Let’s see how fresh are we both able to be. He also had a big match, but he has 15, 16 years on me. Biologically I think it’s going to be a bit easier for him to recover.
“But I look forward to it. I play tennis competitively mainly to be able to reach the finals of grand slams. Here I am, so I cannot complain about anything.”
Head-to-head
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Highlights of the semi-final clash between Alcaraz and Djokovic at the US Open
Djokovic has won five of their nine previous meetings, including their last final at the Olympics in 2024, but Alcaraz won both their slam finals at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.
A very interested spectator will be Rafael Nadal, who is back at the Australian Open for the first time since his retirement just over a year ago.
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The Sky Sports tennis team look at why Djokovic struggled against Alcaraz at the US Open…
He is not surprised to see Djokovic still battling away, saying: “When you like to do this thing, if you are not injured and if you are not super tired mentally, why wouldn’t you be here?
“I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience. Novak, for obvious reasons, he’s not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So, full respect.”
Nadal admitted he cannot root for his old rival against his Spanish heir, though, adding: “If Novak wins, I will be happy for him because it is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career.
“So I will be happy. But, if I have to support someone, I feel I have to support Carlos.”
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