Djokovic prepares to face Alcaraz for the Australian Open championship

Novak Djokovic turned back the clock to dethrone Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic and set up a final meeting with world number one Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard slogged through the longest Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic defeated the Italian double defending champion 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the early hours of Saturday morning after being stopped in the semifinals of the previous four Grand Slams.

The ten-time champion ended a five-match losing streak to Sinner and became the oldest man to reach the final in the professional history, surpassing Ken Rosewall less than four months before his 39th birthday.

He will attempt for a record-extending 11th triumph at Melbourne Park and the incredible 25th major crown that has eluded him against Spaniard Alcaraz, who took five hours and 27 minutes to topple Zverev 6-4 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-7(4) 7-5 earlier at Rod Laver Arena.

“I saw Carlos after the match and he told me ‘I’m sorry to delay the start’ and I told him ‘I’m an old man, I need to go earlier to sleep’,” Djokovic stated on the court.

“Looking forward to seeing him in a couple of days.”

At a tournament short on thrillers and dramatic upsets, all four semi-finalists played their bit to deliver drama in spades.

In order to hold out Sinner, who was unrelenting in his onslaught on the Serb’s serve but missed eight break-point opportunities in the final set, Djokovic had to rely on his 20 years of Grand Slam expertise and his renowned mental toughness.

“I had my chances … Many break points, couldn’t use them,” stated Sinner.

“He came up with some great shots. “I know he’s won 24 Grand Slams. We know each other very well, how we play. “I feel like he’s the greatest player for many, many years.”

ALCARAZ FIGHTS CRAMP

While Djokovic can become the oldest winner, Alcaraz overcame a leg cramp to defeat Zverev, and with his first Melbourne victory, the Spaniard will attempt to become the youngest person to complete the career Grand Slam.

Both Djokovic and Alcaraz were physically overwhelmed by the semi-finals, and they both puked throughout the games.

Two sets up, Alcaraz struggled to move at 4-4 in the third set and had a medical timeout (MTO) during the change of ends to undergo work on his right leg.

It left Zverev, last year’s runner-up to Sinner, furious at the supervisor, given players are banned from MTOs for cramp.

Alcaraz glugged pickle juice and soldiered on, losing the following two sets but still conjuring enough shot-making genius to make Zverev fight for them.

The Spaniard’s prospects sank when he double-faulted to drop service in the opening game of the fifth.

But he seemed reinvigorated as he chased down a drop-shot and pulled off a victory at full stretch.

Zverev fought grimly to keep Alcaraz at bay, saving a flurry of break points as his fatigue increased.

He served for the match at 5-4, only to watch it slip through his fingers as Alcaraz grabbed the last three games in a dramatic conclusion.

With victory won, Alcaraz lay flat on his back on the court in shock.

No stranger to marathon battles after his 2025 French Open final win over Sinner, Alcaraz said belief was the key to making it through the longest Australian Open semi-final. “I always say you have to believe in yourself no matter what,” Alcaraz said. “I was struggling in the middle of the third set. Physically it was one of the most challenging matches I’ve played in my brief career. But I’ve been in this scenario before.

“I had to put my heart into the match. I accomplished it and fought to the last ball … I’m incredibly proud of that and the way I came back in the fifth set.”