Novak Djokovic has dug into the archives and produced his vintage best to reach the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles final.
The 38-year-old wound back the clock on Friday night to topple two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 in a marathon semifinal.
By becoming the oldest player in the Open era to reach an AO men’s singles final, the 24-time Grand Slam champion will on Sunday fight to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for an 11th time.
The player looking to stop him? Carlos Alcaraz, the world No.1 who earlier on Friday prevailed in a five-set epic, lasting almost five-and-a-half hours, over Alexander Zverev.
UNBELIEVABLE ‼️
Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the #AO26 Final after playing out this EPIC with Jannik Sinner@wwos • @espn • @tntsports • @wowowtennis • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/DLUdQdtFmd— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2026
“I’m lost for words,” said Djokovic. “It feels surreal to be honest, playing four hours, almost 2am, reminiscent of 2012 when I played Rafa in the final.
“The quality of the tennis was extremely high, and I knew that that was the only way for me to have a chance to win tonight against him.
“He won last five matches against me, he had my mobile number, so I had to change my number for tonight. I have tremendous respect for him, incredible player, I mean he pushes you to the very limit which is what he did tonight to me.”
On Friday, Djokovic struck 46 winners to the second seed’s 72 but was clutch when it counted most, crucially saving 16 of 18 break points.
Under the bright lights of Rod Laver Arena in front of an enthralled 15,000-strong crowd, the second-seeded Sinner secured an early break which he consolidated for a 3-0 lead.
Djokovic, the fourth seed, hadn’t won more than one point in the first three games, but fought his way onto the scoreboard after saving a break point with his first ace of the match.
Sinner tested the 10-time AO champion’s overhead with defensive lobs, but unlike the version of Djokovic that struggled against fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, the Serb delivered under pressure.
Hungry to win his first Grand Slam semifinal since 2024 Wimbledon, Djokovic found his rhythm on serve, but couldn’t reel in his rival. Armed with the break advantage, Sinner didn’t concede a single point during his last two service games of the set.
Early in the second set after another loose forehand, Djokovic roared in frustration, yet in the fourth game converted the third of three break points to surge ahead 3-1 lead when a Sinner forehand sailed long. Though Sinner immediately earned three chances to break back, Djokovic was impenetrable, winning five points in a row from 0-40 to consolidate for a 4-1 lead.
Soon, the match was level at a set apiece.
The high-intensity battle continued in the third set as the duo evenly traded blows until the 10th game when Djokovic, serving to stay in the set at 4-5, surrendered a break point – and the set – with a defensive lob that sailed long.
In the fourth, Sinner was broken early after a loose forehand that caused Serbian fans to leap out of their seats, and they became increasingly vocal when Djokovic consolidated for a 2-0 lead. Feeding off their energy, a determined Djokovic pushed the match into a decisive fifth set.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL‼️@carlosalcaraz vs @DjokerNole for the 2026 Australian Open title. Who've you got? 🏆#AO26 pic.twitter.com/JpSXvJO0bZ
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 30, 2026
There, Sinner generated eight break points yet failed to convert any of them, perhaps most frustratingly when he led 0-40 in the eighth game, trying to get the final stanza back on serve.
Shaking off a time violation warning and urged on by fans chanting “NO-LE,” the 10-time AO champion served his 12th ace of the day to push ahead 5-3.
Sinner cooly held to love, putting the match on Djokovic’s racquet after the pair changed ends at 5-4. The second seed saved two match points but couldn’t repeat the heroics on the third, flinging a backhand wide to hand Djokovic victory.
Friday’s four hour and nine minute triumph ensured the Serbian star will contest a record 38th Grand Slam singles final on Sunday.
Awaiting is top seed Alcaraz, whose triumph over Zverev was the longest-ever AO semifinal.
Djokovic holds a 5-4 head-to-head advantage over his 22-year-old rival, but is 0-2 in Grand Slam finals against Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam.
Djokovic said his triumph over Sinner “feels like winning already”, before turning his attention to Alcaraz.
“I just hope that I’ll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him," Djokovic said. "That’s my desire.”