By Dwayne Ferreira
The king of Melbourne Park has reclaimed his throne, at least for one more night. In a match that felt less like a standard semifinal and more like a changing of the guard being violently paused, 38-year-old Novak Djokovic defeated two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic at the 2026 Australian Open. After four hours and nine minutes of brutal baseline warfare, Djokovic collapsed to his knees, securing a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory that defied both logic and his recent history against the Italian.
Entering the match, the narrative seemed set in stone. Sinner, the world No. 2, had become Djokovic’s “Kryptonite,” winning their previous five encounters. Djokovic, meanwhile, had reached this stage through a bizarre sequence of luck, benefiting from a walkover and a mid-match retirement in the previous rounds. He hadn’t actually completed a full set of winning tennis since the third round. Many experts predicted that the 24 year old Sinner, riding a 19 match winning streak in Melbourne, would finally end the Djokovic era in Australia once and for all.
For much of the first three sets, that prediction held firm. Sinner’s groundstrokes were heavier, his serve more reliable, and his movement more fluid. When the Italian took a two-sets-to-one lead, the 10-time champion looked physically spent, often doubled over between points.
However, as the clock ticked past midnight, the “Djoker” of old emerged under the lights of Rod Laver Arena. In the fourth set, Djokovic began taking massive risks, shortening rallies and finding the lines with surgical precision. He forced a decider, igniting a crowd that had begun to sense a miracle.
The fifth set was a masterclass in mental fortitude. Djokovic saved all eight break points he faced in the final frame alone. The climax came in the eighth game; trailing 0-40 on his own serve, Djokovic appeared to be at the brink of collapse. Instead, he produced three consecutive unreturnable serves and two blistering forehand winners to hold.
”I told myself at the start of the fifth: ‘It’s not impossible,'” Djokovic said later, his voice cracking with emotion. “I just had to stay in the dogfight.”
At 1:32 AM local time, Sinner pushed a final forehand wide. Djokovic, who had not beaten the Italian since late 2023, looked at his box with tears in his eyes. In his post-match interview with Jim Courier, he managed to find his signature wit:
”Jannik has been the best player in the world for the last 18 months. He had my mobile number… so I had to change my number tonight! To be in my 11th final here at 38 years old—I’m lost for words.”
The victory snaps Sinner’s dominance and sets up a “Dream Final” on Sunday. Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz, who survived his own five set marathon against Alexander Zverev. For Djokovic, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and an 11th Australian Open crown are now just one win away.
Chief Scores:
Novak Djokovic def. Jannik Sinner 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
(Australian Open semifinal | 4h 09m)
