Djokovic outlasts Jannik Sinner to reach Australian Open final vs Alcaraz
Djokovic is back in the Australian Open final after surviving another five-set grind on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, beating Jannik Sinner in a tense semifinal that swung repeatedly before Novak Djokovic steadied in the closing games. The result turns the late weekend of tennis into a generational headline: novak djokovic against world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, with history on both sides and bodies already pushed to the edge.
In sinner vs djokovic, the defending champion struck first and kept forcing Djokovic to solve new problems, but the 10-time Melbourne winner found just enough return pressure and fifth-set nerve to close it. The match finished shortly after 9:30 a.m. ET Friday, setting up a Sunday showdown at the australian open that arrives after two punishing semifinals.
Djokovic: the five-set comeback that flipped the tournament
The djokovic vs sinner semifinal ended 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, snapping Sinner’s recent run of wins in the matchup and sending novak into another title match at Melbourne Park. It was the kind of match fans track via australian open live tickers and live tennis scores—momentum resets, long service holds, and one break of serve suddenly carrying an entire set.
For Sinner, the outcome was especially sharp because he twice held a lead in sets and repeatedly looked comfortable dictating from the middle of the court. For Djokovic, the significance is layered: it’s another major final at a stage of his career where every deep run becomes its own durability statement.
Age became part of the on-court narrative, too. Djokovic age: 38. Sinner age: 24. That contrast will frame the final as much as tactics.
What the Australian Open 2026 schedule looks like now
The australian open 2026 schedule is down to the last championship match on the men’s side, with the timing again tailored to Melbourne prime time and early-morning viewing in North America for australian open tennis fans.
| Item | Detail (ET) |
|---|---|
| Sinner v Djokovic (SF) | Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| Men’s title match | Sunday, Feb. 1, 3:30 a.m. ET |
| Final matchup | Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz |
| Djokovic age / Sinner age | 38 / 24 |
| Key lead-in result | Alcaraz won his semifinal in five sets |
Australian Open results: how Sinner got back to this stage
The australian open results leading into Friday showed why sinner tennis has carried so much weight in Melbourne lately. Sinner moved through his quarterfinal by beating Ben Shelton in straight sets, a match that reinforced his ability to blunt big serves and keep points on his terms.
Shelton’s route to that quarterfinal also matters for the broader men’s field. He earned it by rallying past Casper Ruud in four sets, a result that added to the tournament’s theme of younger power players pushing through established baseliners. The “sinner shelton” storyline was real again, but the semifinal proved the ceiling is still brutally high when Djokovic finds his best defensive shape and big-point discipline.
Alcaraz tennis: the opponent waiting after another marathon
While the night session produced the Djokovic escape, the day session produced a different kind of stress test. Alcaraz tennis fans watched Carlos Alcaraz survive a five-set semifinal that stretched beyond five hours, leaving the final with a major question that has nothing to do with rankings: who recovers faster?
That makes the men’s final more than a simple clash of styles. Djokovic’s experience in managing a two-week major is unmatched, but Alcaraz’s speed and first-strike aggression can shorten points—if his legs respond after the marathon.
What channel is Australian Open on, and how to watch Australian Open 2026
The question “what channel is australian open on” is spiking because the biggest matches start at a tough hour in the U.S. For American viewers, the Australia Open is carried on ESPN platforms, with the men’s final airing on ESPN and streaming through the ESPN app; an encore broadcast is scheduled later that morning on ESPN2. For fans searching “watch australian open 2026,” the practical answer is to use the main ESPN TV feed or the authenticated streaming options on ESPN’s platforms, which also make it easier to avoid spoilers if you start from the beginning.
As the final approaches, the cleanest way to follow tennis scores and tennis results is to rely on the tournament’s official live scoreboard and your broadcaster’s match tracker, because the late-hour start can make social media a minefield for instant outcomes.
Sources consulted: Australian Open (Tennis Australia); ATP Tour; Reuters; Associated Press; ESPN Press Room; The Guardian
