Vintage Novak Djokovic rolled back the years to dethrone two-time champion Jannik Sinner in a late-night five-set classic to set up an Australian Open showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic â- four months before his 39th birthday - âshowed he remains unbeatable on his day by coming through a thrilling semi-final to end the reign of defending champion â Sinner 3-6 â6-3 â4-6 6-4 6-4 âin four hours and nine minutes, the epic ending just after 1.30am local time.
Eighteen years âafter his first Melbourne âcrown, Djokovic will now strive for a record-extending 11th, against Alcaraz, and the unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title âthat has eluded him.
After Sinner's final backhand landed wide, Djokovic thrust his arms aloft before collapsing to the court in elation and exhaustion.
With tears in his eyes, the Serbian said: "I'm lost for words right now. It feels surreal to be honest. Playing over four hours, almost 2am. The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extremely high. I knew that was the only way for me to have a chance to win tonight.
"He beat me the last five times. He had my mobile number so I had to change my number for tonight. I told him at the net thanks for allowing me at least one.
"It already feels like winning but I know I have to come back and fight the number one in the world in a couple of days. I just hope I'll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him."
Djokovic had been granted a lucky break to even step on the court for his semi-final against Sinner after his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik pulled out before the match and then was two sets down against Lorenzo Musetti in his last eight on Wednesday only for the Italian to suffer a thigh injury.
The first three games against Sinner were ominous for Djokovic, with the Italian cruising into an early lead, but he then began to find the crisp and precise ball-striking for which he is renowned.
It was not enough to turn around the set as Sinner maintained his high level, but a few errors crept into the Italian's game early in the second set and Djokovic seized his chance, breaking to lead 3-1.
Sinner might have responded straight away but Djokovic seemed to be relishing the challenge of trying to find a way past the man who has been untouchable in Melbourne for three years.
Djokovic was on the offensive, sending deep groundstrokes fizzing into the corners, while his serve was potent and dug him out of some sticky situations.
His first set won against Sinner in two years arrived courtesy of a forehand winner, and he had glimmers early in the third before the second seed piled on the pressure at 4-5, taking his second set point when Djokovic missed a lob.
The 38-year-old looked weary, repeatedly bending over and stretching out his legs and torso at every opportunity.
But Sinner would not have been surprised to see Djokovic rouse himself again at the start of the fourth set, claiming an immediate advantage that he hung onto grimly, his serve once more proving a crucial ally.
Djokovic had not played a five-setter since the French Open in 2024 but his level remained extraordinarily high as they headed into a decider.
The momentum seemed to be with Sinner but such matches are about moments and no one knows better how to come out on top of those moments than Djokovic.
Sinner had eight break-point chances and Djokovic a single one, yet it was the 24-time Grand Slam champion who converted, and one was enough.
The result ends the run of consecutive Sinner-Alcaraz finals at three, while it is the first time since Wimbledon in 2024 that the Italian has not reached a major final.
Remarkably, he lost despite winning 12 more points, and Sinner said: "It was a very important slam for me. It can happen. It was good match from both of us. I had many chances, couldn't use them, and that's the outcome. It hurts, for sure."
Six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Tim Henman, speaking on TNT Sports:
"You go back to the beginning of the match, there was massive uncertainty. Sinner was 3-0 up in a flash and you're thinking: 'Wow, this could be ugly. Sinner could run the tables here.'
"Djokovic responded and started to get his teeth into the match, and the way he started unloading from the back of the court, going down the line, moving it into the corners.
"The quality, intensity and consistency of his play was absolutely phenomenal.
"This guy has won 24 Grand Slam, but what he did tonight, at this stage of his career, is difficult to comprehend."
British doubles legend Jamie Murray, speaking on TNT Sports:
"You could see with his smile, it was pure elation from Novak, and so nice to see when you think of all the matches he's played and amazing experiences he's had.
"To still get that amount of joy out of that performance and victory which, who knows, maybe he didn't expect to be able to beat these guys? [Sinner, Alcaraz]
"He had the legs to outlast a guy 14 years his junior, the head to figure out solutions and find a way to destabilise Jannik, and he had the heart and desire to find a way to win. It's incredible."
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