Melbourne : Novak Djokovic once again defied time and tennis history by becoming the oldest man in the Open Era to reach an Australian Open final, breaking a 53-year-old record previously held by Australian legend Ken Rosewall, who achieved the feat in 1972.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion booked his place in the final after a thrilling five-set semifinal victory over world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, winning 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a gripping four-hour battle at Rod Laver Arena.
The win carried added significance — Djokovic snapped a five-match losing streak against Sinner, proving once more that experience, composure, and mental toughness still hold immense power on the sport’s biggest stage.
Reflecting on the intense contest, Djokovic admitted the emotional weight of the moment, recalling his legendary 2012 Australian Open final against Rafael Nadal, the longest Grand Slam final in history.
“I am lost for words. It feels surreal. Playing for over four hours at nearly 2 am — the intensity and quality had to be at the highest level to win,” Djokovic said after the match .
Now set to chase his 11th Australian Open title, Djokovic continues to rewrite the limits of longevity — proving that even after five decades, records are still meant to fall.
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