What's happened
Novak Djokovic, at 38, advances to his 11th Australian Open final after a tough five-set win over Sinner, setting up a showdown with Carlos Alcaraz, who also won in five sets. Djokovic aims for his 25th Grand Slam, while Alcaraz seeks to become the youngest to complete a career Grand Slam.
What's behind the headline?
Djokovic's resilience in a physically demanding semi-final underscores his enduring dominance at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles. His pursuit of a 25th major will likely be his most challenging yet, given Alcaraz's youth and form. Alcaraz's first final in Australia signals a new chapter in men's tennis, with the potential to break records as the youngest to win all four Grand Slams. The match will be a clash of experience versus emerging talent, with Djokovic aiming to extend his legacy and Alcaraz seeking to cement his place among the greats. The outcome will significantly influence the sport's historical narrative, with Djokovic's record-tying and Alcaraz's record-breaking ambitions at stake.
What the papers say
The coverage from AP News, France 24, and The Independent provides a comprehensive view of the semi-finals and final prospects. AP News highlights Djokovic's historic pursuit and recent resilience, while France 24 emphasizes his age and record ambitions. The Independent offers insights into the players' physical states and the broader historical context, including Margaret Court's record and the significance of Djokovic's quest for 25 titles. Contrasting opinions include AP News's focus on Djokovic's resilience and record chase, versus The Independent's emphasis on the emerging rivalry and record-breaking potential of Alcaraz.
How we got here
Djokovic, tied with Margaret Court at 24 Grand Slam titles, reached the Australian Open final after a grueling semi-final win over Sinner. Alcaraz, aiming to become the youngest to complete a career Grand Slam, also advanced after a five-set victory over Zverev. Both players overcame injuries and fatigue in their semi-finals, with Djokovic's win ending a streak of losses to Sinner and Alcaraz's victory marked by cramps and a leg injury.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 1 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
-
Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player. Alcaraz has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 75 achieved on 21 June 2021.
-
Jannik Sinner is an Italian tennis player. Sinner has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 68, achieved in February 2020. His career-high doubles ranking is No. 380, achieved in March 2020. He is the first male player born in 2001 to reach a Gra
-
Margaret Court AO MBE, also known as Margaret Smith Court, is a retired Australian tennis player and former world No. 1. She won 24 Grand Slam women's singles titles in her career, more than any other player in history, and is considered one of the greate
-
Jessica Pegula (born February 24, 1994) is an American professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings in singles of world No. 3, achieved in October 2022, and in doubles of world No. 1, set in September 2023. Pegula was a finalist at the 2024...
-
Amanda Kay Victoria Anisimova (; born August 31, 2001) is an American professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3, achieved in January 2026. Anisimova is a two-time major finalist, at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships..
-
Aryna SiarhiejeĊna Sabalenka (born 5 May 1998) is a Belarusian professional tennis player. She is the current world No. 1 in women's singles by the WTA, and is a former No. 1 in doubles. Sabalenka has won 22 WTA Tour-level singles titles, including four.
-
Elena Andreyevna Rybakina is a Russian-born Kazakhstani professional tennis player. She has a career-high ranking of No. 17 by the Women's Tennis Association.
-
Alexander "Sascha" Zverev is a German professional tennis player. He is the second-youngest player ranked in the top 10 by the Association of Tennis Professionals, and was a permanent fixture in the top 5 throughout 2018.