‘Tennis wins’ – Australian Open final between Djokovic and Alcaraz ‘is set up beautifully’

Video credit: TNT Sports

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will go toe to toe for the Australian Open title in Melbourne on Sunday and there is history at stake no matter who wins, with both men looking to write their names into the record books.The match is live on TNT Sports and discovery+ and begins at 08:30 GMT. Djokovic is seeking a 25th Grand Slam trophy that would move him ahead of Margaret Court as the singles player with the most major titles. Those two have been locked on 24 apiece since Djokovic last won a major at the US Open back in 2023.But Alcaraz is also looking for some history, as he bids to become the youngest man to bag a career Grand Slam, having already won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open twice apiece. The Spanish world No. 1 is just 22 years old – his compatriot Rafael Nadal was 24 when he completed his career Slam. 

Both players needed five sets to win through to the final; Alcaraz was on court for a mighty five hours and 27 minutes and while Djokovic’s match was shorter at just over four hours, it finished late into the night. 

In fact, after completing press duties and recovery, the Serbian player reportedly only made it to bed at 6am on Saturday morning, giving him anything but the ideal preparation for Sunday’s final. 

So, who has the edge going into what is being billed as a blockbuster final? 

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‘One of the best matches I have ever won’ – Alcaraz reacts to epic win over Zverev

Video credit: SNTV

“It was set up beautifully with those two epic semi-finals, the game styles, how they match up,” Tim Henman explained.

“Whether Alcaraz brings the variation, whether Djokovic brings that incredible ball striking he showed again against [Jannik] Sinner to just play the most blistering tennis. The grey area, the question mark is their recovery. 

“Alcaraz played five hours against [Alexander] Zverev, but he is a lot younger so you would expect him to recover a little bit better and he has had a little bit of extra time. Djokovic played for over four hours, so fingers crossed he’s got the energy to go toe to toe tomorrow.”

For Henman, age is a factor – and he has the Spanish superstar just ahead in the favourite stakes. But the former British No. 1 was keen to stress how impressed he has been with the style of tennis Djokovic produced against Sinner. 

“I think Alcaraz [is the favourite] but Djokovic [played better in the semis] and that is what is astounding, because Djokovic is incredible. He’s won 24 Slams, we know everything he has done. 

“But that semi-final, there wasn’t much foundation for it, he hadn’t played particularly well, he had the walkover, he was two sets down to [Lorenzo] Musetti and looking mentally like he was struggling. 

“And then you see the first three games against Sinner and you are like, wow, this could be over quickly as he was all over the place, he was late on his shots, his feet weren’t moving. Then he loses the first set 6-3, and you think okay, he’s into it. 

“And then it was absolutely off the charts how well he played. He was ripping the forehand, really one of the most amazing performances I’ve ever seen from Djokovic.”

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‘Mind-boggling’ and ‘impossible’ – Djokovic wows with ‘amazing’ win

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Coco Vandeweghe would not be drawn on a favourite – instead reiterating, like Henman, that Djokovic’s performance on Friday was one of the best she had seen from the 24-time major winner. 

But can he back that up and beat the world No. 2 and then the world No. 1 in consecutive matches?

“I think this is a better match up for Novak to play Carlos than Jannik, because Carlos will give him those silly mistakes, he will go for a few points or moments of a mental lapse, whereas Jannik won’t do that,” she explained. 

“With Carlos, Novak can take some breaths, where he won’t feel he is being absolutely dominated from the back of the court or like he has to keep up from the back of the court, and he allows himself to play his way more into the match. I give Novak a really good chance to get 25 here.”

The duo have played nine times, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 5-4. But Alcaraz won their most recent meeting – at the US Open last season. Depsite a 16-year age difference, they have already served up some classic matches, especially at the Slams. 

The Australian Open will be the third Grand Slam final they have contested, the other two coming at Wimbledon – with Alcaraz prevailing on both occasions.

“Tennis wins in both those regards. To me, there is nothing you want to see more than the two biggest storylines we’ve been talking about coming into these two weeks coming to blows in the final,” added Vandeweghe.

“The adrenaline is obviously going to play a huge part, but you have a guy that has won the Australian [Open] 10 times, he knows what it takes to get the job done here, and you have one of the most incredible young talents going for the career Slam at 22 looking for his first. So, the match up could not be any more exciting,” added Henman. 

And while the British legend had tipped Alcaraz, he certainly was not writing off Djokovic’s chances of defying age once again. 

“What [Djokovic] has done in the last 24 hours is just off the charts good, so who knows!”

Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+