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One way or another, history will be made as Djokovic faces Alcaraz in the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday
Jamie Braidwood Sunday 01 February 2026 01:37 GMT- Bookmark
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Close'A little bit disrespectful' - Djokovic reminds reporter over his Grand Slam dominanceNovak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz must recover from marathon efforts as they prepare for a blockbuster Australian Open final where history will be on the line.
While Djokovic, at 38, is one win away from the standalone record of 25 grand slam singles titles and Alcaraz, at 22, can become the youngest man of all time to complete the career grand slam, both must push themselves to the limit physically after one of the most dramatic semi-final days the tournament has seen on Friday.
After Alcaraz triumphed in five hours and 27 minutes to beat Alexander Zverev in the longest semi-final in the tournament’s history, Djokovic stunned defending champion Jannik Sinner in five sets late into the night. The 10-time champion did not report to the site on Saturday, and said he would not train before the final.
Earlier, Elena Rybakina stunned top seed and rival Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open women’s final and her second grand slam title, overturning the world No 1 in a rollercoaster final set where she won six of the final seven games.
In doing so, she denied Sabalenka a third Australian Open title and handed the world No 1 another tough defeat in a major final. “I had my opportunities. It feels like I missed couple, but it's tennis,” Sabalenka said. “Today you're a loser. Tomorrow you're a winner.”
Follow live updates from the Australian Open finals weekend, below
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Australian Open latest scores and updates
- Novak Djokovic prepares to face Carlos Alcaraz in historic Australian Open final
- Djokovic skips training ahead of bid for 25th grand slam singles title
- Elena Rybakina stuns Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 4-6 6-4 to win Australian Open
- Rybakina battles from behind in final set to win second grand slam title
- Sabalenka handed another tough defeat after leading final set 3-0
- Sabalenka: 'It's tennis: today you're loser, tomorrow you're winner'
Elena Rybakina sums up her Australian Open triumph
“Well, it's an incredible achievement. Super happy and proud. It was really tough battle. I didn't expect to turn it around. Got some opportunities.
“Aryna is a very tough opponent, but I'm super happy that this time I'm holding the trophy.
“I knew that today if I get a chance to lead that I will need to try some risky shots and just go for it. Not wait for any mistakes or even get to the long rallies.
“It's amazing to hold this trophy this time.”
(Getty Images)Jamie Braidwood1 February 2026 01:37Aryna Sabalenka: 'It's tennis: today you're loser, tomorrow you're winner'
“She played incredible match and tried my very best. I was fighting until the very last point.
“I had my opportunities. It feels like I missed couple, but it's tennis. Today you're loser. Tomorrow you're winner. Hopefully I'll be more of a winner this season than a loser. Hoping right now, and praying.
“Of course I have regrets. When you lead 3-Love and then it felt like in few seconds it was 3-4, and I was down with a break. So it was very fast.
“Great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me. But as I say, today I'm a loser, maybe tomorrow I'm a winner, maybe again a loser.”
Jamie Braidwood1 February 2026 00:37What has Novak Djokovic said about Carlos Alcaraz?
“History is on the line for both of us every time we play. The finals of a grand slam, there's a lot at stake. But it's no different from any other big match that I play.
“My preparation is as it should be, and I won against him last year here, also in a gruelling match. Let's see. Let's see how fresh are we both able to be. He also had a big match, but he has 15, 16 years on me. I think it's going to be a bit easier for him to recover.
“I look forward to it. Look, I play tennis competitively mainly to be able to reach the finals of grand slams. Here I am, so I cannot complain about anything.
“I'm just trying to enjoy the moment that I'm experiencing tonight. I'll think about finals later, but for me, this is win that almost equals winning a grand slam.”
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 23:37What happened in Novak Djokovic's semi-final?
Then, a 38-year-old Novak Djokovic became the oldest Australian Open men’s finalist of all time after ending defending champion Jannik Sinner’s winning run in another five-set epic to set up a final with world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic will bid for the standalone record of 25 grand slam titles, and his first in 18 months, on Sunday after producing a vintage performance against the 24-year-old Sinner, who had won his last five matches against Djokovic and his last 19 in a row at this tournament.
In doing so, Djokovic battled from two sets to one down, denying Sinner a fourth consecutive grand slam final against his rival Alcaraz, and proving that he remains a contender for the biggest titles in a match where he began as the major underdog.
Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th grand slam title looked to be over as he trailed Lorenzo Musetti by two sets in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, but Djokovic admitted he was on his way home and “extremely lucky” to progress as the Italian retired with a right leg injury.
Novak Djokovic shows his relief after overcoming Jannik Sinner (Getty Images)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 22:37What happened in Carlos Alcaraz's semi-final?
Carlos Alcaraz proved why he is the five-set king of tennis as the world No 1 won defeated Alexander Zverev to keep his career grand slam bid alive in five hours and 27 minutes.
Alcaraz looked to be cruising into his first Australian Open final without dropping a set as he led third seed Zverev after two close sets, but as he neared the finish line at 4-4 in the third, the 22-year-old dramatically pulled up, stretching his right leg.
With his movement severely limited, Alcaraz was in serious danger as Zverev forced the fourth set on a tiebreak and then won another tiebreak to take it into the decider. Zverev then broke Alcaraz’s serve in the first game of the fifth.
But the Spaniard somehow managed to hang on, giving himself time to recover physically as the semi-final became the longest ever played at the Australian Open. As Zverev served for the match, Alcaraz broke back, winning the final four games in a row 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.
“It's one of the most demanding matches that I have ever played in my short career,” Alcaraz said. “I've been in this kind of matches before, so I knew what I had to do. I had to put my heart into the match.”
Carlos Alcaraz reveals how he kept five-set streak alive in Australian Open epic
Alcaraz has now won 12 five-set matches in a row after defeating Alexander Zverev in five hours and 27 minutes to reach his first Australian Open final Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 21:37Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head
This will be the 10th tour-level match between Djokovic and Alcaraz and their sixth over best of five sets. Djokovic currently leads the head to head 5-4, but Alcaraz won their last meeting at the US Open semi-finals, winning in straight-sets.
Before then, Djokovic had won all three times they had met on a hard-court and Alcaraz’s previous two wins over Djokovic had come in the Wimbledon final, in 2023 and 2024. They have met at the Australian Open once before, with Djokovic winning in the quarter-finals last year.
(AP)Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 20:37Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz start time and how to watch Australian Open final
When is Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz?
The men’s final at the Australian Open between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will begin from 8:30am GMT (UK time).
Is the Australian Open on TV?
The tournament will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK as well as online on Discovery+.
In the US, it will be shown live on ESPN and Tennis Channel.
Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 19:37Rafael Nadal picks favourite for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open final
Rafael Nadal has picked his favourite for the Australian Open final as he prepares to witness history in the match between compatriot Carlos Alcaraz and long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
Nadal, the two-time Australian Open winner and 22-time grand slam champion, will be court-side at the Rod Laver Arena to witness history on Sunday, returning to the tournament for the first time since his retirement from the sport in 2024.
Nadal picks favourite for Alcaraz and Djokovic’s Australian Open final
The two-time Australian Open winner and 22-time grand slam champion will be at the Rod Laver Arena to witness history Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 19:14As Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz eye history, the blueprint for both is clear
Sometimes, a sporting contest comes along that is so seismic, so loaded with narrative, that history is guaranteed either way.
On Sunday evening in Melbourne, one of Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz will claim a career-defining achievement. Djokovic, at 38, stands a win away from a 25th grand slam singles title that would given him the sole ownership of the all-time record, and make him the oldest grand slam champion in the Open era. Alcaraz, at 22, can become the youngest man in history to complete the career grand slam, should he win the Australian Open title that completes the set.
As Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz eye history, the blueprint for both is clear
As Djokovic bids for the grand slam singles record of 25 titles, Alcaraz can become the youngest man in history to complete the career set Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 18:37Another brutal Australian Open defeat highlights Aryna Sabalenka’s contradiction
Aryna Sabalenka’s consistency in reaching grand slam finals is undeniable. Four in a row at the Australian Open and three in a row at the US Open, making it seven consecutive finals at the hard-court slams, is a generational achievement. Only two other players in the Open era, Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, can match it.
But her mixed record once getting there is unavoidable. In her eight grand slam final appearances, Sabalenka has four defeats to her four wins. Since rising to No 1 in the world, this glaring vulnerability has also become more pronounced, losing three of her last four and now two in a row at the Australian Open following last year’s collapse against Madison Keys.
Another brutal Australian Open defeat highlights Aryna Sabalenka’s contradiction
The sport’s dominant No 1 has been unable to carry that aura into grand slam finals with the same consistency Jamie Braidwood31 January 2026 18:07Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
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