Jannik Sinner won 12 points more than Novak Djokovic over five enthralling sets of their Australian Open semi-final, but it was the 38-year-old Serb who moved one match away from an eleventh crown in Melbourne and a 25th grand slam title in all after a 6-3 3-6 6-4 4-6 4-6 victory.
Defending champion Sinner somehow converted just two of 18 break point opportunities as Djokovic become the oldest man to reach the Australian Open final in the professional era, where he will face world number one Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's decider.
After Sinner's final backhand landed wide, Djokovic thrust his arms aloft before collapsing to the court in elation and exhaustion.
With tears in his eyes, the Serbian said: "I'm lost for words right now. It feels surreal to be honest. Playing over four hours, almost 2am. The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extremely high. I knew that was the only way for me to have a chance to win tonight.
"He beat me the last five times. He had my mobile number so I had to change my number for tonight. I told him at the net thanks for allowing me at least one.
"It already feels like winning but I know I have to come back and fight the number one in the world in a couple of days. I just hope I’ll have enough gas to stay toe-to-toe with him."
UNBELIEVABLE ‼️
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2026
Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the #AO26 Final after playing out this EPIC with Jannik Sinner@wwos @espn @tntsports @wowowtennis #AO26 pic.twitter.com/DLUdQdtFmd
The performance capped an incredible day of action at Melbourne Park after a cramping Alcaraz’s five-and-a-half-hour epic against Alexander Zverev earlier.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals at all four slams last season but came up short each time, the physical toll simply too great, but this tournament the tennis gods have been smiling on him.
His fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik pulled out before the match, while Djokovic was heading for the exit door down two sets to love against Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday only for the Italian to suffer a thigh injury.
Djokovic knew he caught an extremely lucky break, with the 10-time champion not playing anywhere near the level needed to beat Sinner.
The first three games were ominous for Djokovic, with Sinner cruising into an early lead, but he then began to find the crisp and precise ball-striking for which he is renowned.
It was not enough to turn around the set as Sinner maintained his high level, but a few errors crept into the Italian’s game early in the second set and Djokovic seized his chance, breaking to lead 3-1.
Sinner might have responded straight away but Djokovic seemed to be relishing the challenge of trying to find a way past the man who has been untouchable here for three years.
Djokovic was on the offensive, sending deep groundstrokes fizzing into the corners, while his serve was potent and dug him out of some sticky situations.
His first set against Sinner in two years arrived courtesy of a forehand winner, and he had glimmers early in the third before the second seed piled on the pressure at 4-5, taking his second set point when Djokovic missed a lob.
The veteran looked weary, repeatedly bending over and stretching out his legs and torso at every opportunity.
But Sinner would not have been surprised to see Djokovic rouse himself again at the start of the fourth set, claiming an immediate advantage that he hung onto grimly, his serve once more proving a crucial ally.
Djokovic had not played a five-setter since the French Open in 2024 but his level remained extraordinarily high as they headed into a decider.
The momentum seemed to be with Sinner but such matches are about moments and no one knows better how to come out on top of those moments than Djokovic.
Sinner had eight break-point chances in the decider and Djokovic a single one, yet it was the Serbian who converted, and one was enough to triumph after four hours and nine minutes as the clock struck 1.30am.
