Djokovic beats Sinner in 5-set thriller and sets up Australian Open Alcaraz final

Tropes like ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ will be thrown around in the wake of Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open semi-final win against Jannik Sinner (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4), the one where he battled from two sets to one down, the one in which he denied Sinner, tennis’s number-one star, a fourth consecutive grand slam final against his rival Alcaraz.

But there is no need for cliché when talking about Djokovic. He surpasses them.

The Serb put in one of the all-time great performances in Melbourne as he saw off the best player in the game at the moment, the most in-form and frightening talent in Jannik Sinner, the player who had who had won his last five matches against Djokovic and his last 19 in a row at this tournament. The odds were against Djokovic; another cliché in the bin.

A record 25th Grand Slam now awaits the 38-year-old, who will take on Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The Spaniard beat third seed Alexander Zverev in a thrilling semi-final of his own - the longest in tournament history, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 7-5 - putting him into his first Aussie final.

Related stories

Tennis

Alcaraz aims for historic haul in Melbourne final

Golf

The stolen Seve statue wasn’t lost

It will be a true test for Djokovic, but anything he does will still defy all the time-worn lines about talent in sport and what humans are capable of.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.