Kamal Ghorui
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic threw open his arms and gazed into the Melbourne night sky, celebrating one of his greatest victories on a court he has made his own. The world No. 4, who had lost to Jannik Sinner in their last five meetings, came through 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in extraordinary fashion to make his 11th Australian Open and 38th major final. “I’m lost for words, to be honest,” the 38-year-old said. “It feels surreal almost. Playing for four hours, I was reminiscing about playing Rafa (Nadal) in the final; it lasted six hours. He (Sinner) had my mobile number, I had to change it!” Earlier, Djokovic responded superbly in the second set, racing to a 4–1 lead and quickly silencing questions surrounding the 24-time major champion’s form. There had been doubts about the 38-year-old heading into the last-four clash, having played little tennis since Saturday, following a fourth-round walkover and a quarter-final cut short by Lorenzo Musetti’s injury. The Serbian had struggled against the fifth-seeded Musetti, who led by two sets before being forced to retire. There were also concerns over foot blisters that had hampered Djokovic. Once Djokovic claimed the second set to level the match, the crowd became a decisive factor in the second semi-final. Chants of “Novak, Novak” lifted him, carrying the Serbian even when he did not look at his best in the third set, at one point collapsing into his courtside seat during a changeover. The ten-time champion regrouped in the fourth set, forcing the contest into a deciding fifth. It was only the second time during these championships that a match had gone five sets on Rod Laver Arena. Following the Carlos Alcaraz–Alexander Zverev semi-final, the first five-set match on the main court at this year’s tournament, Sinner and Djokovic delivered another epic. Sinner, who had not been at his best in his run to the semi-final, had early chances to break in the fifth set, but Djokovic was all steel on the big points. He delivered 13 first serves on 15 break-point opportunities to hold his ground. It was Djokovic who struck first, breaking in the seventh game as the crowd rose to its feet and the Serbian waved his fist. Sinner had three more chances to break back at 0-40 in the eighth game but was unable to convert. The 24-time major champion, who lost in the semi-finals at all four Grand Slams last year, returned to a major final for the first time since Wimbledon 2024.
