At 38 years old, Novak Djokovic finally broke his Jannik Sinner hoodoo in staggering fashion, clawing past the two‑time defending champion in a five‑set classic to reach yet another Australian Open final and earn a shot at Carlos Alcaraz.
Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic came from a set down and then 2–1 behind to outlast Sinner 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 in just over four hours, ending the Italian’s long winning run in Melbourne. The victory snapped a sequence of recent defeats to Sinner and marked the Serbian’s first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2024, reinforcing his status as the oldest men’s finalist in Australian Open history.
Djokovic’s resilience was most visible in the closing stages, where he repeatedly escaped from perilous service games and saved a slew of break points before engineering the decisive break in the fifth set. His movement, depth and defensive improvisation belied his age, turning what had looked like another painful near‑miss into one of the most emotionally charged wins of his late career.
Waiting for him on Sunday is world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who survived the longest semi‑final in Australian Open history with a five‑set marathon win over Alexander Zverev to reach his first Melbourne title match. The final now promises a generational showdown, with Alcaraz chasing a career Grand Slam at just 22 and Djokovic one victory away from a record‑extending 25th major and an 11th crown on his favourite court.
