The king of Melbourne lives.
Novak Djokovic stunned No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the Australian Open in a five-set epic Friday morning.
Djokovic won the final two sets against the two-time defending champ and will now face Carlos Alcaraz in the finals.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after upsetting Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open on Jan. 30, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
Djokovic saved all eight break points he faced in the final set — and 16 of 18 overall — to hold off the heavily favored Italian for the 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Djokovic — a 10-time champion in Australia — got emotional on the court while being interviewed.
“I am at a loss for words right now to be honest,” Djokovic said as fans serenaded him with “Novak” chants.
Novak Djokovic lunges for a backhand in the Australian Open semifinals. AFP via Getty Images
“It feels surreal. Honestly, it feels like winning already tonight. I know I have to come back … and fight the No. 1 of the world. I just hope that I’ll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him. That’s my desire. Let the God decide the winner.”
The 38-year-old Diokovic had enjoyed a fortuitous run to the semifinals, advancing in a walkover against Jakub Mensik in the fourth round and then winning over Lorenzo Musetti after the fifth-seed suffered a leg injury in the third set after dominating the first two.
Novak Djokovic greets Jannik Sinner at the net after the match. AP
It allowed Djokovic to turn back the clock against Sinner, who had beaten him five straight times.
It was the second of two brilliant semifinals at Rod Laver Arena with Alcaraz taking down Alex Zverev in five hours and 27 minutes in another five-set classic earlier in the day.
The length of that match delayed the start of Djokovic-Sinner, which then lasted four hours and seven minutes.
THE MOMENT NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEAT JANNIK SINNER TO REACH HIS 38TH GRAND SLAM FINAL AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN.
Absolute legend.
Chills. 🥹
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 30, 2026
Djokovic reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams last year — but failed to advance to the championship match each time.
Sinner dispatched him easily in straight sets at both the French Open and Wimbledon. Still, Djokovic was feisty in his post-match press conference on Wednesday when asked how it felt to be “chasing” Alcaraz and Sinner like once he did Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Jannik Sinner at his post-match press conference. AP
“I find if a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between where the times when I started ‘chasing’ as you say Rafa and Roger and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik,” Djokovic said, chiding a reporter. “There’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams. I think it’s important to put that in perspective.
“I don’t feel like I’m chasing to be honest. Roger and Rafa will always be my greatest rivals. I have tremendous respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing and they will continue to do for the next 10, 15, 20 years, God knows how many years they are going to play. They are so young.”