Novak Djokovic produced a stunning upset of defending champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday, setting up a blockbuster Australian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard battled through a five-set test against Alexander Zverev.
The 38-year-old Serbian legend defeated the Italian 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, and 6-4 in a taxing 4 hours and 9 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, turning back the clock to maintain his chances of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title.
After spending an incredible five hours and twenty-seven minutes on the court, world number one Alcaraz overcame cramps and a fifth-set disadvantage to defeat Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), and 7-5.
“I’m lost for words right now, to be honest. It feels surreal,” AFP quoted Djokovic, who dropped to his knees and was emotional when the match ended, as saying.
After losing his previous five meetings with Sinner, Djokovic complimented him for “allowing me at least one win in the last couple of years. I have tremendous respect for him, he pushed me to the limit. The level of intensity, and I guess the quality of tennis, was extremely high, and I knew that was the only way for me to have a chance to win tonight,” he added.
With the victory, Djokovic advanced to his 39th Grand Slam final and became the oldest player in Open history to make it to the championship match in Melbourne, where he has won ten times. He hasn’t made it to the finals since Wimbledon in 2024.
Since his previous major victory at the US Open in 2023, Djokovic has been attempting to overcome Margaret Court, who was present at the stadium, and win a historic 25th major. With the rise of Sinner and Alcaraz, who have since shared every Slam trophy, it has become more challenging.
Alcaraz had a terrible scare at 4-4 in the third set against Zverev, pulling up in pain with what looked to be a cramp, and he barely missed falling out. Zverev became enraged and vehemently protested with officials after Alcaraz was permitted to receive treatment at the changeover.
Zverev expressed his sentiments by cursing at referees, as medical timeouts are not allowed just for cramping in the muscles. Alcaraz later stated that the physiotherapist opted to give him a pause because he believed he might have injured his right abductor.
Despite having trouble moving, the top seed continued to play and dropped his opening set of the competition. However, the crowd erupted in applause after he recovered from a breakdown in the fifth set after downing some pickle juice.
“I rank this one in the top position of one of the best matches that I have ever won. I just hate giving up. When I was younger there were a lot of matches that I just didn’t want to fight anymore or just gave up. Then I just got mature, and I just hate that feeling after all,” said Alcaraz, who is into his eighth major final.
The 22-year-old Alcaraz has won twice at Wimbledon, two French Opens, and two US Opens, but he has failed four times on the blue Melbourne Park hard courts. If he ends the drought, he would overtake fellow countryman and legend Rafael Nadal, who won all four majors at the age of 24, as the youngest man to do so in the Open era. He became the youngest person to advance to the men’s singles final at all four Slams thanks to his efforts on Friday.
