Novak Djokovic produced a vintage performance under pressure to defeat reigning champion Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second men’s singles semi-final of the Australian Open 2026 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Friday, booking his place in the final for the 11th time.
Earlier in the day, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz secured the first final spot after outlasting Alexander Zverev in a five-set marathon, setting up a blockbuster between 22-year-old Alcaraz vs. 38-year-old Djokovic championship clash on Sunday. It will be Alcaraz’s first Australian Open final, while Djokovic will be chasing yet another record at Melbourne Park.
GREATEST OFF ALL TIME!
38 year old Novak Djokovic defeats the two-time defending champ Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reaches a 38th Grand Slam final.
11th #AusOpen final for the 10-time champ
UNREAL SCENES. pic.twitter.com/JcrfOjfUfm
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 30, 2026
Djokovic had reached the last four after benefiting from two walkovers in the tournament, while 24-year-old Sinner entered the clash in dominant form, dropping a set only once, in the third round against Eliot Spizzirri, and otherwise cruising through the draw, including a straight-sets win over eighth seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.
The Italian also held the edge in the rivalry, leading their ATP head-to-head 6-4 and having won their previous five meetings, with Djokovic’s last win over Sinner coming in 2023. Sinner backed that up early, taking the first set 6-3 and later reclaiming the lead by winning the third set 6-4 to move within a set of the final.
But Djokovic, the 10-time champion in Melbourne, once again showed why he remains one of the toughest players to beat on the biggest stage. He raised his level in the fourth set, breaking early and forcing the match into a decider.
In the fifth set, Djokovic repeatedly escaped danger, producing near-flawless tennis in the biggest moments. He faced 18 break points overall and saved 16, including multiple holds from 15-40 and even 0-40 down. The Serb eventually closed out the contest after more than five sets of high-quality tennis, ending Sinner’s bid for a third straight Australian Open crown.
Lost for words pic.twitter.com/vQRGZwLDOd
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 30, 2026
The defeat also snapped Sinner’s streak of reaching five consecutive Grand Slam finals.
Djokovic will now meet Alcaraz in Sunday’s final, with both players chasing major milestones in Melbourne.