Novak Djokovic outlasts Jannik Sinner on Rod Laver Arena in a five-set epic at Melbourne Park in their men’s semi-fiinal
When asked if he would face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final, Djokovic joked that he felt like he had already won the tournament after such an epic semi-final. These words come from the man who is on his way to his 25th grand slam trophy and 11th at Melbourne Park.
“It feels surreal, to be honest,” he said in an on-field interview immediately after the game.
“It’s been more than four hours, [finishing at] It’s almost 2 a.m…. the intensity level and I think the quality of the tennis was extremely high and I knew that was the only way I was going to have a chance of winning against him tonight. [Sinner].
“He’s won the last five games he’s played against me. He has my cell phone number so I had to change my number tonight… But all kidding aside, I said to him online, ‘Thanks for letting me have at least one in the last few years.’
“He’s an incredible player. He pushes you to your limits, that’s what he did to me tonight.”
It was a men’s semi-final day that will not soon be forgotten. The first semi-final started on Friday afternoon, while the second ended early on Saturday morning. For the fifth time since the tournament moved to Melbourne Park in 1988, both men’s semi-finals ended in five sets.
Djokovic showed signs of fatigue midway through the third set, appearing to double up between points.
But, as so often before, the pain seemed to inspire him more.
He miraculously saved eight break points early in the fifth set, serving under tremendous pressure and playing aggressively from the back of the court.
After the match, Djokovic paid tribute to the crowd and praised the majority of Rod Laver Arena fans who came to support him.
“I love our passionate relationship,” he said with a smile.
“Every year [it’s] something different.
Sinner was tackled by a man 14 years his senior.Credit: EddieJim
“Tonight was definitely not one of the best nights in terms of atmosphere and support I’ve had in Australia.”
An exhausted Sinner was equally frustrated with his failure to capitalize on key opportunities and heaped praise on his opponent.
“It was a bit of an up and down,” he said.
“We know each other very well [and] how we play. I always say don’t be surprised because he is the best player for many years and of course he plays fewer tournaments because of his age, but at the same time we know how important the grand slams are for me, for him, for Carlos. [Alcaraz]and everyone.
“Hopefully I can use this as a lesson to see what I can improve on.”
Djokovic has lined up a mouth-watering encounter with world No. 1 Alcaraz on Sunday night. The Spanish sensation is poised to become the youngest player to complete the grand slam in his career.
The duo played twice in 2025. Djokovic beat Alcaraz in four sets in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but the Spaniard was more than good in the final in the US Open semi-finals; Win in straight sets.
Djokovic won his first Slam at Melbourne Park in 2008, beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in four sets. When that match was played, Alcaraz was still waiting to celebrate his fifth birthday.
