Source atptour
MELBOURNE – In a match that will be whispered about in the corridors of Rod Laver Arena for years to come, Novak Djokovic proved once again why he is the undisputed king of Melbourne Park. The defending champion survived a ferocious onslaught from Jannik Sinner, ultimately prevailing in a five-set masterclass: 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3.
The victory marks Djokovic’s return to the Australian Open final, keeping his quest for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title very much alive.
A Clash of Eras
The semifinal lived up to its heavyweight billing from the opening serve. Sinner, who had previously troubled the world number one in recent matchups, pushed Djokovic to the absolute limit with his signature baseline power.
Early Dominance: Djokovic took the first set with clinical precision, exploiting unforced errors from the young Italian.
The Sinner Surge: Refusing to fade, Sinner roared back in the second and fourth sets, utilizing his thundering forehand to dictate play and leave Djokovic scrambling.
The Turning Point: The third-set tiebreak proved pivotal. At 5-5, Djokovic produced two moments of defensive magic to snatch the set, a blow that seemed to temporarily deflate the Sinner camp.
Mental Fortitude Prevails
Despite a late surge from Sinner to force a decider, Djokovic’s legendary “wolf mentality” took over in the fifth set. He secured an early break and never looked back, serving with ice-cold composure to seal the match after nearly four and a half hours of play.
“Jannik is one of the best ball-strikers in the world, and he made me work for every single point,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “At 38, these five-setters don’t get any easier, but I’m still here, and I’m still hungry.”
What’s at Stake?
Djokovic now awaits the winner of the second semifinal in Sunday’s showpiece event. With this win, he extends his remarkable winning streak in Melbourne and inches closer to further distancing himself from the chasing pack in the history books.
Match Stats at a Glance:
| Player | Aces | Winners | Unforced Errors |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| Djokovic | 12 | 48 | 24 |
| Sinner
| 15 | 52 | 38 |
