Jan 31, 2026
3 min read
The Serbian defeated the Italians in just over four hours (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4) and will aim for his 11th 25th major title in Melbourne in the final with Alcarez.
Djokovic's height eliminated Sinner from Australian Open
The Serbian defeated the Italian in a battle that lasted more than four hours (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4) and will be aiming for his 25th major trophy, 11th in Melbourne, in the final with Alcaraz.
But what is needed?, some will say.Simply put: because of this.
"No-le, No-le, No-le!"Downtown Melbourne roars at one in the morning and the legend contains the emotions.A few minutes earlier, as he prepared to submit to try to close out the match, he made the cross goal and gritted his teeth.One last try.This is it.Jannik Sinner concedes, it's absolutely all systems go - the Italian has won the last two editions and the last five head-to-head against him - and the line-up for Sunday's grand final is finally confirmed (9.30am, Eurosport) after a volcanic and marathon Friday."It's surreal..." says Novak Djokovic.And he is right.He will be 39 in May.
Faced with the ultimate logic of the age, Sarbe suggests a memorable and somewhat irrational victory given the context and circumstances.Roger Federer left it four years ago and Rafael Nadal two years ago, both doing more than their due.But his body is still holding up — it's been days and days, but it's resisting — and he says he feels like he can still do it, or he'd be retired by now."I keep my passion and motivation. It's my main driving force."The facts speak for themselvesRegardless of the outcome, Djokovic once again points to his greatness
Exhausted, he spoke after coming back (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-4, after 4 hours 09 m) against a tennis player 14 years his junior.The Balkan guy said.Only him.A competitor among tennis competitors.Transalpine's electric game, which has been uncomfortable for many evenings, is more than an achievement to keep.After a strong start and immediate response to the Serbian response, he eventually fell into the trap.
Zero is in a suit for the big nights and he comes to it with intelligence, logic and all.Add the rest."I said it would be very difficult, but not impossible. I said I had to play at a different level, and I got it," admitted the winner on the scheduled court two days later with Carlos Alcaraz, a smile hinting at the wrinkles on his face.He reached the elite level more than 20 years ago and made his first impression in Australia in 2008.Since then, he has had 24 majors with the label, 10 of which were in Melbourne.He has not lost a single final at home.And he thanks his people saying: "Today's tickets were very expensive."
The gentleman recites what he has previously offered, recovers and counters, successfully defending in 16 of the 18 opportunities his opponent has arranged to break his serve.Bled, The Sinner (24) loses color when he sees that he cannot perform and ultimately falls into that old spider web that has captured so many.The Serbian always imposes mathematics and wins this time despite having 12 points less than the Italian, this champion of the last two editions.He leaves angry and is 1200 points behind in the rankings.He runs away from Alcaraz, who is watching him in the hotel.
He and the five position controversies, cause concern.The record shows he won only six of the sixteen he played, and the stopwatch also shows him;He lost the back nine for close to four hours - specifically, starting at 3h50 - "Yes, it hurts a lot. More than that. This tournament is very important to me," admitted the world number two."I had a lot of chances, I didn't know how to use them. He took great shots. I wanted to take a risk in some moments, but they didn't happen in less than eight minutes.
By then, Djokovic had already gathered with his companions and, like Alcaraz, looked directly at the clock.Every second counted for him.It was a transitional day.He was happy, but incomplete.There was only one station between this and Major 25 - set by no one, male or female.Desire," he said. He spoke like the greatest player to reach a final in Australia, and the crowd cheered him on. Many wondered why, what was the point of continuing. On nights like this, the answer is simple.
Because?For this.
TYPE 'ACES'... Nothing
Sometimes inexplicably, tennis gave an episode translated into a paradox. The sinner led Djokovic in all statistical sections and in the total number of points. However, he lost. He had not done it on a hard surface since October 1, in the final in Beijing against Alcaraz.
The man from San Candido left with a very bad taste in his mouth.Not only did he lose control of his own terrain, but he couldn't capitalize on his 27 aces at the end, which was his personal best.In the round of 16, 19 against Luciano Darderi, he had previously set his highest.
Djokovic is successful and so far everything is going as he wants.If in the round of 16 it is not necessary to take the court, due to the resignation of Jakub Mensik due to injury, in the quarter final adductors betrayed Lorenzo Musetti when he has equalized the first two sets.
Nole described the victory as "the most important in recent years", because of the "circumstances" and because it was against the criminal;to the point of saying that "it's the equivalent of winning the Grand Slam."The next day, he will not train and will try to "use every hour to recover."
Serbia's ecstasy ended an emotional afternoon.Too long.The 9h 36m duration of the two semi-finals made them the third longest this century, behind only Wimbledon 2018 (11h 51m) and Australia 2012 (8h 32m).
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