So on Sunday history will be made one way or the other, with Djokovic going for No 25 and Alcaraz going for the career slam.Djokovic did defeat Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals last year – but Alcaraz got his revenge in the US Open semi-finals, on his way to the title.But trying to break down and predict the final is a perilous job after what we’ve witnessed today.And is probably more than I can attempt to do after hours and hours and hours of typing.Many thanks for your company and contributions today, do join me again tomorrow for Sabalenka v Rybakina in the women’s final.

Bye!Here’s Tumaini’s take on what we’ve just seen:Never before had Novak Djokovic been such an underdog in such a significant match.His mere presence in the Australian Open semi-finals, after all, had been the result of a significant slice of good fortune.As he faced off against one of the dominant players in his sport, for many a competitive match would be close enough to a win.This special champion has achieved so much for so long, but in the early hours of Saturday morning the 38-year-old pulled off one of the greatest upsets of his legendary career, recovering from a two sets to one deficit to topple the two-time defending champion and second seed Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to improbably return to the Australian Open final.No tennis player in the history of this sport has come even close to achieving the longevity that Djokovic commands.

As he chases his record-extending 25th grand slam title, he has become the oldest man in the open era to reach the Australian Open final.Djokovic has now reached his 11th Australian Open final and 38th grand slam final overall, extending his all-time records in both categories.Djokovic’s victory rounded off one of the great Australian Open semi-final days in history as, after so many uneventful, routine days, the tournament finally came alive with consecutive epic five set tussles.Djokovic will rekindle his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz in the final, with Djokovic aiming to become the oldest men’s grand slam champion in history while Alcaraz tries to become the youngest man in history to complete the career grand slam.Confidence in Djokovic before the match was low for good reason.

On Wednesday, he had been completely outplayed for two sets to Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, before the Italian was forced to retire while leading two sets.This had been preceded by a withdrawal from the 16th seed Jakub Mensik in round two, meaning Djokovic had not even won a set since the third round.You can read the rest here:It’ll be Djokovic’s 11th Australian Open final, his 38th (!!) grand slam final and his first since Wimbledon in 2024.It’s also his first win over Sinner since 2023, and means we’ll have a first non-Sincaraz slam final since the Australian Open last year.Djokovic has made a career out of making the impossible possible, but if he pulls off winning this title surely it’ll be his most confounding victory of the lot.

Djokovic speaks:It feels surreal,Playing almost four hours, coming close to 2am,I’m reminiscing about playing Rafa in 2012,The quality of tennis was extremely high and I knew this was the only way to win against him,He won the past five matches against me and I told him at the net thanks for allowing me this.

He pushed me to the very limit,Tonight has been one of the – if not the best – support for me in Australia,I’m looking forward to seeing Carlos on Sunday, even though it feels as if I’ve won [the title] tonight,I hope I’ll have enough gas to stay toe to toe with him,“One of the most extraordinary matches I’ve ever seen,” declares Tim Henman.

And Djokovic doesn’t look as if he believes what he’s just done as he sinks to his knees on court before blowing kisses to the crowd and slumping into his chair totally exhausted.Sinner, meanwhile, has already departed, with his reign as Australian Open champion over.He’ll have many more years to add to his two titles in Melbourne and four slam titles overall, but for Djokovic this could be now or never for that record-breaking No 25, and that quest for undisputed GOAT-ness is what drove him to find a level we’ve not seen from him in many years.Zverev was in exactly the same position as Djokovic is now in the first semi-final, remember, serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth, and we all know what happened then.But Djokovic has demonstrated throughout his entire career that he’s a man for the biggest moments, and he moves to 15-0, 30-0.

The crowd are chanting “NOLE, NOLE, NOLE” – I don’t know how, I’ve got my heart in my mouth.And maybe they do too when Sinner comes back for 30-15.But a sweetly struck forehand from Djokovic brings up 40-15, two match points.AND AFTER THE MOST NEVERENDING OF RALLIES DJOKOVIC NETS! AND THEN SINNER TAKES A POINT HE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT TO WIN! Somehow Sinner is still alive at deuce … but here’s a third MP AND THIS TIME DJOKOVIC TAKES IT WHEN SINNER SWATS WIDE! At the age of 38, Djokovic has defied age, ranking and logic with one of the performances of his life!Fifth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 5-4 Sinner (*next server)Wow.This match.

This day.I’m running out of superlatives for what we’ve seen.The quality has perhaps been even higher than the first semi-final; Sinner and Djokovic have hit just 18 unforced errors between them in this decider.It’s staggering stuff.And Sinner nervelessly holds to love, forcing Djokovic to serve this out …Fifth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 5-3 Sinner* (*next server)But Sinner, like Alcaraz in the match before him, doesn’t know when he’s beaten … and he gets 0-30 on Djokovic’s serve after the most energy sapping of exchanges.

Djokovic is doubled over again as he drops 0-40 down,This will be Sinner’s sixth break point in the fifth set,He hasn’t taken any of the previous ones,And he doesn’t take the sixth or seventh or eighth either! “Is it me, or is Novak Djokovic really quite competitive?” asks Paul Griffin in the understatement of the day/week/year/decade,This is now simply a battle of wills, and Djokovic’s will is >>>>>> Sinner’s as he hauls himself up from 0-40 down to not only back up the break but move to within one game of the final!Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 4-3 Sinner (*next server)Sinner moves to 30-0.

He’s 93% for first-serve points won in this set.It’s been a supreme serving display from him, and he’s still not been able to put away Djokovic.That’s how well Djokovic is playing; I can’t remember the last time I saw him hit his forehand this hard.Just as I unintentionally self-sabotage this game-by-game by spilling water over my keyboard.Such are the levels of tension/tiredness as the match clock ticks past three hours and 45 minutes – though they’re still nearly two hours (!) shy of Alcaraz’s win over Zverev earlier.

Sinner appears to be cruising at 40-15 but Djokovic’s bid for history just won’t be denied and he comes back for deuce and then advantage! And the court shrinks for Sinner as his forehand misfires into the tramlines! Djokovic has the first break in this fifth set and is two holds from ending the Sincaraz grand slam final duopoly! This would be Djokovic’s first slam final since Wimbledon in 2024.Fifth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 3-3 Sinner* (*next server)This is like an all-out turf war now: the young, two-time defending champion against the ageing 10-time former champ, and who will give ground first? An absorbing point at 15-all on Djokovic’s serve ends in the Serb’s favour.It’s staggering that Djokovic has produced this level of performance given he was two sets down against Musetti in the previous round before the Italian retired injured.He should be home now, rather than pushing Sinner to his limits.And 30-15 very quickly becomes game.

Fifth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 2-3 Sinner (*next server)Sinner has lost only one point on serve in this decider and he’s got even Djokovic clapping after a perfectly executed drop shot for 40-0.An ace out wide settles matters.Back to you, Nole …Fifth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 2-2 Sinner* (*next server)Djokovic is staring down the barrel for his second successive service game at 15-40.Sinner is just 2-12 for break points converted in this match.And Djokovic, playing as if he’s been going for three minutes rather than three hours and 30 minutes, biffs away a backhand winner … followed by one on the forehand side! Deuce.

Djokovic errs with his forehand to give Sinner a third break point.Could this be the decisive moment in the match? No, because once again Djokovic walks through walls and laughs in the face of adversity to not only survive break point No 3 but then hold for 2-2! This is like watching Djokovic and Rafa going at each other in the 2012 final.Fifth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-2 Sinner (*next server)I think this is now arguably up there as Djokovic’s best grand slam performance since he last won a major at the 2023 US Open.And here’s Jeremy Boyce: “This is totally enthralling, as was the first semi.I have always thought of Novak as my go to guy if I ever needed to have someone taken out.

He is the tennis equivalent of and the epitome of the cold, killer assassin, always ready for the job when the call comes in, and the price is right.What better price than that 25th slam?” Yup, if I had to pick someone to bet my house (or last Rolo) on, it would be peak Djokovic.But he can’t do anything to stop Sinner surging through on serve to love here, though.Fifth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 Sinner* (*next server)This game is a microcosm of the whole match as Djokovic falls behind before somehow hauling himself back into contention.At 15-all, Sinner suddenly ups the ante, and with a vicious forehand winner the defending champ has two chances to break at 15-40.

But Sinner spanks long on the first break point, and a serve bullet down the T saves the second! And Djokovic squeezes through from deuce!Fifth set: *Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 0-1 Sinner (*next server)I wonder when Djokovic last played a five-setter, it must have been a while ago …,and I’m a bit distracted trying to find out exactly when it was as Sinner advances to 30-15 on serve and then holds from there,Yes, it was two and a half years ago that Djokovic last played five sets,How much does he have left to give? Well he’s stretching his 38-year-old legs between almost every point now, but he’ll keep dragging his body back for more and more if it means he can close this match out and move to within one win of that record-breaking slam No 25,He promised before the match that he would fight until the last shot and he’s staying true to his word.

Those were Sinner’s 20th and 21st aces of the evening,But Djokovic’s 10th ace gives him two set points at 40-15,A weak, wobbly second serve from Djokovic and Sinner gives it the treatment it deserves,That was edgy,And Sinner smacks Djokovic down with a bruising inside-out forehand winner on the second set point! Deuce.

A squeaky shoed baseline rally full of jeopardy plays out … and Djokovic prevails! He’s got himself a third chance to take this to a decider.And he takes it when Sinner swats his forehand on the run into the net! Into a fifth they go and WHAT A DAY this is turning out to be at the Australian Open!Fourth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 5-4 Sinner (*next server)So Sinner is serving to stay in the set and it’s 15-all.He’s perhaps got his heart in his mouth when he opts to leave Djokovic’s effort, which drops only just long.But there again, Sinner is so calm and composed, even when trying to deal with this Djokovic comeback, that he surely knew what he was doing.30-15 becomes 40-15 courtesy of an ace, and 40-30 becomes game thanks to another.

Fourth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 5-3 Sinner* (*next server)At least Djokovic has the comfort of the crowd being on his side in this match.They’re urging him to fight back when he drops 15-30 down, and screaming loudly when he pulls an ace out of his pack for 30-all.He sends Sinner out wide with his next serve, attempts the one-two punch … but Sinner scrambles to his left to get it back … and then picks Djokovic with a backhand pass! 30-40, a break-back point for Sinner … and Sinner’s shot bashes the net! Sinner makes no mistake with his forehand on the next point to secure a second BP … but Djokovic sees Sinner’s forehand winner and raises it with one of his own! Deuce, advantage Djokovic.“NOLE, NOLE, NOLE,” scream the crowd.And they carry him through.

Fourth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 4-3 Sinner (*next server)Sinner dispatches back-to-back aces for 30-0.Djokovic has the net gods on his side on the next point, and a clip of the tape is enough to distract Sinner into netting for 30-15.Djokovic then tries to apply some pressure at 40-30, but Sinner stands firm to hold.“To be 38 and still fairly consistently make it to grand slam semi-finals itself is an achievement,” emails Krishna Moorthy.“To put it in perspective, would Usain Bolt now qualify for an Olympics, would Phelps compete in a swimming event? Sinner might still win this semi-final , but I have never placed a bet when the Djoker is playing.

He bends time and physics,It is easy to dominate when you are liked by the crowd (like a Federer or a Steffi) but to fight the opponent AND the crowd for so long is no mean task,”Fourth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 4-2 Sinner* (*next server)The fourth consecutive hold to 15, as Sinner stays the single break behind,Then at 15-all on Djokovic’s serve, it’s suddenly 2015 again, as Djokovic comes out on top in a lung-busting point and is roaring from the depths of his being! 30-15,Then 40-15; Djokovic has missed only two first serves in this set.

And another stinging, snarling first serve from Djokovic secures the game.Fourth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 3-1 Sinner* (*next server)And all of this is before Sinner and Alcaraz even enter the debate, which they surely will given the rate at which they’re accumulating slams.But anyway, back to on-court matters, as Djokovic breezes through his serve to 15.He’s played rope-a-dope with opponents throughout his career, and having looked spent at the end of the third set, he’s now playing as well as he has at any point in this semi-final.Fourth set: Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 2-1 Sinner (*next server)Sinner holds to 15 with little fuss, so let’s strike up the GOAT debate again.

“Laver missed 20 grand slams prior to the open era and won all four in 1969 the year he was allowed back to compete,” notes Steve Roberts.“Who knows how many he would have won if he had been able to compete in Slams his whole career? I think GOAT has to be a question posed but never answered.”“One could twist Richard Hirst’s suggestion and instead require the old Big Three and the new Big Two to play with Dunlop Maxply rackets, as Laver and subsequent generations up to early McEnroe did, and also to forgo special diets, supplements (botanical, synthetical, sunscreen or otherwise), strength and endurance training and a host of modern and contemporary aids,” offers Darryl Accone.“Oh, and also, no miracle medical time-outs of the kind that just propelled Alcaraz through his semi-final against Zverev.”Fourth set: Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 2-0 Sinner* (*next server)Djokovic consolidates the break to 15, finishing with a flourish as he thwacks away a forehand winner.

Cue one of the biggest cheers of the night so far, which is saying something given how loud the crowd have been.The 10-time champion now has the love from the fans that he craved in his peak years, but also they want a fifth set.Having not had a five-setter since the third round, we could be getting two in the same day.Djokovic* 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 Sinner (*next server)Thanks Tom.Right, I’m refreshed, but Djokovic isn’t