Titans clash Sunday after surviving grueling five-set semifinals

Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz prepare to face off in the Australian Open 2026 final. Both superstars survived intense, five-set marathons on Friday to book their tickets to Sunday's summit clash.

Djokovic, aiming for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, displayed his trademark resilience against Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The Serbian legend had to dig deep after falling behind early, eventually triumphing with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Despite losing the first and third sets, the 38-year-old veteran refused to yield. He fought back to claim the fourth set, dragging the contest into a decisive fifth. In the final moments, Djokovic’s experience shone through as he closed out the match, securing his spot in his 11th Australian Open final.

Alcaraz Creates History in Marathon Semifinal

On the other side of the draw, Carlos Alcaraz overcame physical struggles and a determined opponent to reach the final. The young Spaniard defeated Alexander Zverev in what is now the longest semifinal in the tournament's history. The match lasted a staggering 5 hours and 27 minutes, ending 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5.

Alcaraz battled through injury concerns, specifically pain in his right adductor, which required a medical timeout. At just 22 years old, he has now become the youngest man in the Open era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam events.

Sunday’s Australian Open 2026 final promises to be a historic encounter. While Djokovic chases his 25th major title, Alcaraz is gunning to become the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam.

Image Source: ATP Tour