Novak Djokovic produced a vintage display to defeat reigning two-time champion Jannik Sinner in a gripping semi-final of the 2025 Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serb rolled back the years to edge past the Italian 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a contest that finished at 1:32 a.m., booking a place in Sunday’s final against top seed Carlos Alcaraz.
Victory in the final would see Djokovic claim a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, surpassing the long-standing mark he currently shares with Australia’s Margaret Court, who was watching from the stands at Melbourne Park.
Alcaraz secured his place in the final earlier after overcoming fitness concerns to defeat Germany’s third seed Alexander Zverev in an epic five-set battle.
With age and injuries increasingly challenging Djokovic, this Australian Open may represent his best opportunity to capture the elusive 25th major. His gritty performance against Sinner, however, showed he still has plenty left in the tank.
Djokovic’s last Grand Slam triumph came at the US Open in 2023, since when Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated men’s tennis, leaving the former world number one stalled on 24 major titles.
Sinner, 24, made a blistering start on Rod Laver Arena, breaking Djokovic early to surge into a 3-0 lead. The four-time major winner was in superb form, serving with authority and striking cleanly from the baseline to take the opening set.
Djokovic responded in the second, breaking for a 3-1 lead and saving three break points to move ahead 4-1 before sealing the set with a trademark whipping cross-court forehand.
The Serb appeared to fade midway through the third set, briefly clutching his chest before slumping into his chair. Sinner capitalised, converting his second break point at 5-4 when a Djokovic lob drifted long.
But Djokovic refused to yield. He broke early in the fourth set as midnight passed, forcing a decider in which the tension rose sharply. Sinner squandered multiple chances to break, and Djokovic pounced, securing a decisive break for 4-3 before holding to move within one game of an 11th Melbourne final.
Sinner saved two match points at 4-5, but Djokovic sealed victory on his third opportunity.
The undisputed king of Melbourne Park, Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion. He had earlier admitted he was fortunate to reach the semi-finals and acknowledged he entered the clash as the underdog against Sinner.
Djokovic benefited from retirements in earlier rounds, with Lorenzo Musetti pulling out while trailing two sets to one in the quarter-finals, and Jakub Mensik withdrawing injured in the fourth round.
Despite reaching the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments last year, Djokovic had failed to progress further, until now.
AFP
