MELBOURNE : What can’t Novak Djokovic do? The question no longer seeks an answer. At almost 39, the 24-time Major champion has reached a record-extending 38th Grand Slam final. Back in a Major title round for the first time since Wimbledon 2024, the Serbian earned his place by defeating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner, whose game is a mirror image of his, only on younger legs. Djokovic did it not by dominating the numbers, but by displaying a mentality tougher than Kevlar, the heat-resistant polymer.
Nearly every statistic from the Australian Open semifinal that finished in the wee hours of Saturday, favoured Sinner, including total points won, 152 to 140. All except the one category that mattered most, break points saved. Djokovic fought off 16 of 18, with first serve after first serve, including a flawless eight of eight in the deciding fifth set. That, precisely, is where the ten-time Melbourne Park champion flexed his unmatched mental strength.
Djokovic knows that when he faces the 22-year-old world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final, he will need to summon the same force again. The Serbian is unbeaten in 10 previous Australian Open finals and is chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam title. At 38 years and 255 days, a victory would make Djokovic the oldest men’s singles champion of the Open Era. Alcaraz, 22 years and 272 days, is aiming to lift the trophy in Melbourne for the first time and become the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam, breaking an 87-year-old record held by Don Budge.
When they meet for the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup on Sunday, it will mark the 10th exchange of their intense rivalry. Djokovic holds a 5-4 edge in the head-to-head, having beaten the Spaniard in the goldmedal match at the Paris Olympics and in the quarterfinals here last year. Alcaraz, however, authored a masterclass in the US Open semifinals, their most recent contest.Djokovic, who made the semis of all four majors last year, asked himself some tough questions in the off-season.
“When I started my preparations for the new season,” he said, “I asked myself what is it that I’m looking for? I was imagining playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of Grand Slams this year and really giving it all that I have.” The vision took physical form on Rod Laver Arena, where Djokovic snapped a five-match losing streak against the Italian.Like Djokovic, Alcaraz has never been shy about his ambitions, about breaking records and owning his path. In this case, that path leads toward a career Grand Slam. Sunday’s final becomes more than a contest for a trophy.
