Novak Djokovic is set to face off against world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s final of the Australian Open on Sunday following a hard-fought victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner. The 24-time Grand Slam winner staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Italian 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Friday after Alcaraz’s grueling five-hour and 27-minute semi-final battle with Alexander Zverev.
Sinner took an early 3-0 lead in the first set, aiming to extend his winning streak against Djokovic, having claimed victories in their previous five encounters. Djokovic, who had struggled in earlier rounds, including a walkover and dropping sets, found himself trailing as Sinner comfortably secured the first set.
Despite facing setbacks, Djokovic displayed resilience and remarkable play, especially in the second set, where he showcased aggressive baseline tennis to secure his first set against Sinner since their 2024 encounter at Melbourne Park. The intense match took a toll on Djokovic, evident by his physical strain, but he managed to break Sinner in the fourth set to force a decider, marking the first five-set match between the two since the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals.
In the final set, Djokovic’s strong serves continued to trouble Sinner, who pushed for a breakthrough without success. With a 4-3 lead, Djokovic surged ahead, eventually clinching the match in a tense final game. Reflecting on his victory, Djokovic expressed gratitude for the support and acknowledged the challenging battle against Sinner, whom he commended for his performance.
The thrilling semi-final clash set the stage for Djokovic’s showdown with Alcaraz in the upcoming final, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament. Additionally, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering extensive coverage of over 1,400 live matches across various leagues for the upcoming season.