Novak Djokovic and that coveted Grand Slam number 25 are within reach, but he will have to beat top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who is fighting to become the youngest player to win a career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz and Sinner have split the last eight major titles since Djokovic won his last title at the 2023 US Open.
No one knows how to win in Australia better than Djokovic. He has won all 10 of his appearances in the final, so winning his first major trophy in 2008 when he lifted the Norman Brooks Challenge Cup at Melbourne Park would be a fitting final blow to a career that has spanned two decades at the top.
Djokovic finally beat one of the two men who stood in his way on his way to an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title. Defeated two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in five sets Friday in the semifinals.
“I never stopped doubting,” the Serb said, speaking to media in the basement of the Rod Laver Arena around 3am.
“I have never lost faith in myself. There are a lot of people who doubt me. I know there are a lot of professionals who are suddenly trying to retire me or have tried to retire me several times over the last few years.
“I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me the motivation to prove them wrong.”
Meanwhile, Alcaraz had to endure difficulties. The five-year-old had a tough time holding off Alexander Zverev in a game that lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes.It became the longest semifinal in Australian Open history.
“It feels surreal,” Djokovic said of his victory. “Honestly, I feel like I already won tonight. I know I have to come back and fight the No. 1 in the world. I just hope I have enough strength to face him.”
“That’s my wish. Let God decide the winner.”
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Novak Djokovic admitted Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were too strong for the best-of-five match, but vowed to keep fighting for a Grand Slam after leaving the US Open.
Djokovic, who beat Sinner to break Ken Rosewall’s record as the oldest player to reach the final, can again top the list of Australian players as the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title.
But he may need all the support from the Rod Laver Arena as he looks to climb another Mount Everest against world number one Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, who won two trophies each at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, defeated Djokovic to become the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam, surpassing Don Burge, who won the French Open in 1938, two days before his 23rd birthday.
He also became the first male player under the age of 23 to win seven Grand Slam titles, a record not achieved until Djokovic was 27.
With a man turning 39 in a few months, Alcaraz should be better equipped to handle a long, hard day.
Boasting incredible athleticism and arguably the purest shot-making ability in the game, he’ll trust his talent to get the job done.
But try telling that to 24-year-old Sinner, whose hopes of a fifth Grand Slam title were dashed when Djokovic slammed him on the baseline.
Of all Djokovic’s incredible achievements, this is right up there with the very best, and if he can beat Alcaraz, it will be one of the most incredible sports stories of all time.
“Every time we play, history is on the line for both of us,” added Djokovic, who has won all 10 previous finals at Melbourne Park.
“There is a lot at stake in a Grand Slam final, but it is no different from any other big match I play. My preparation was the same and I won against him here last year in a tough match.
“Let’s see how fresh we both are. He had a big game, but I have 15, 16 years left. Biologically, I think it will be a little easier for him to recover.
“But I’m looking forward to it. I play tennis mainly to get to Grand Slam finals. I’m here, so I have nothing to complain about.”
one to one
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US Open semifinal highlights between Alcaraz and Djokovic
Djokovic has won five of the previous nine tournaments, including the final at the 2024 Olympics, while Alcaraz has won both the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon Slam finals.
A very interested spectator will be Rafael Nadal, who is returning to the Australian Open for the first time since his retirement just over a year ago.
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The Sky Sports Tennis team looked into why Djokovic achieved an upset victory over Alcaraz at the US Open.
He wasn’t surprised to see Djokovic still struggling, saying: “If you want to do this, why wouldn’t you be here if you’re not injured and mentally extremely tired?”
“I think this is a positive example of dedication and resilience. Novak is not in his prime for obvious reasons, but he is still very competitive in these competitive times. So I really respect him.”
Nadal admitted he couldn’t root for his old rival against the Spanish successor, adding: “If Novak wins I’ll be happy for him because what he’s doing at this stage of his career is amazing.”
“So I will be happy, but I feel that if I have to support someone, I should support Carlos.”
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