Melbourne: Tennis legend Novak Djokovic rolled back the years with a vintage performance to defeat defending champion Jannik Sinner in a gripping five-set semifinal at the Australian Open on Friday night, booking his place in yet another Melbourne Park final.
The 38-year-old Serbian star outlasted the second seed 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a marathon encounter that stretched deep into the night at Rod Laver Arena. With the victory, Djokovic became the oldest player in the Open Era to reach an Australian Open men’s singles final.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will now fight for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title when he faces world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final. Earlier on Friday, Alcaraz survived the longest semifinal in Australian Open history, defeating Alexander Zverev in a five-hour, five-set epic.
“I’m lost for words,” Djokovic said after the match. “It feels surreal—playing for four hours, almost 2am—reminiscent of 2012 when I played Rafa in the final. The quality of tennis had to be extremely high for me to have a chance tonight.”
Djokovic, who had lost his last five matches against Sinner, produced one of his most resilient displays in recent years. Despite being outgunned in winners—46 to Sinner’s 72—he was clinical under pressure, saving an extraordinary 16 of 18 break points.
In front of a capacity crowd of nearly 15,000, Sinner made a fast start, breaking early to take a 3-0 lead in the opening set. Djokovic struggled initially, winning just one point in the first three games, but steadied himself with strong serving and trademark defensive resilience.
Sinner maintained control to take the first set, conceding no points in his final two service games. However, Djokovic gradually raised his level, finding rhythm on serve and absorbing relentless pressure with remarkable composure.
“He pushes you to the very limit,” Djokovic said of Sinner. “I have tremendous respect for him—an incredible player.”
As the match wore on, Djokovic’s experience and mental toughness proved decisive, allowing him to edge ahead in the deciding set and seal a memorable victory—another chapter in a career that continues to defy time.
Sunday’s final against Alcaraz now promises a blockbuster clash between generations, with Djokovic once again standing on the brink of history.
Source: Australian Open
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