Historical past is on the road in Sunday’s Australian Open males’s remaining that includes top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz towards No. 4 Novak Djokovic, who’s going for his record-extending twenty fifth profession grand slam. Djokovic received an exciting five-setter over Jannik Sinner within the semifinals after a walkover within the fourth spherical and a “fortunate” quarters win whereas Alcaraz beat Alexander Zverev in 5 after trailing 5-3 within the fifth to succeed in the ultimate.
Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion, final profitable the match in 2023. Alcaraz is gunning for his first profession title in Melbourne, which might give him the profession grand slam. Djokovic, 38, hinted at retirement final yr after shedding to Sinner within the French Open and his phrases following his US Open loss in September mirrored these remarks.
Nonetheless, given his prowess on the arduous courts on the Australian Open, many thought of Djokovic a official risk to win in 2026 and he is matched up with a phenom he is 5-4 towards in his profession. Alcaraz and Djokovic have cut up their final 4 matches, together with Alcaraz’s win within the US Open semifinals final yr.
They’ve met as soon as on the Australian Open with Djokovic profitable within the quarters final yr, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Sunday marks Djokovic’s first grand slam finals look since 2024 when he misplaced to Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
“I by no means stopped believing in myself,” Djokovic stated after beating Sinner. “There’s lots of people that doubt me. Numerous consultants wished to retire me or have retired me many instances the final couple of years. I need to thank all of them, as a result of they gave me power. They gave me motivation to show them mistaken, which I’ve tonight. For me, it is not a shock, to be sincere.”
Let’s take a better have a look at how one can catch the motion on Sunday in addition to what you’ll be able to anticipate from each Djokovic and Alcaraz within the match earlier than attending to a prediction and skilled decide under.
The place to look at Australian Open males’s remaining
- Date: Feb. 1
- Location: Melbourne Park Sports activities and Leisure Precinct — Melbourne, Australia
- Time: 3:30 a.m. ET
- TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (attempt at no cost)
Djokovic utilizing ‘chasing’ comment as motivation
Following his semifinals win, Djokovic didn’t respect a query from a reporter suggesting that he spent a lot of early profession “chasing” Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and is now spending the again half doing the identical with Sinner and Alcaraz.
Djokovic made the semifinals at each grand slam final yr in his quest for No. 25. Sinner or Alcaraz has received the final 4 main titles.
“I am chasing Jannik and Carlos? Through which sense?” Djokovic stated. “So, I am all the time the chaser and by no means been chased? I discover it slightly bit disrespectful that you simply sort of miss out on what occurred in between the place the instances once I began ‘chasing’ as you say Rafa and Roger and now that I am chasing Carlos and Jannik.
“There’s most likely a couple of 15-year interval in between the place I used to be dominating the Grand Slams. I feel it is vital to place that in perspective. I do not really feel like I am chasing to be sincere. Roger and Rafa will all the time be my best rivals. I’ve great respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing and they’re going to proceed to do for the following 10, 15, 20 years, God is aware of what number of years they will play. They’re so younger.”
Alcaraz coming off grueling match
Alcaraz is a win shy of turning into the youngest to finish the profession Grand Slam, however he’ll need to do it after a five-hour, 27-minute marathon within the semifinals. Zverev was serving for the match at 5-4 within the fifth earlier than Alcaraz acquired a break and momentum carried on.
“I am simply actually joyful to have the prospect to play my first remaining right here in Melbourne,” Alcaraz stated. “It’s one thing that I used to be pursuing so much, having the prospect to battle for the title.”
It was the third-longest match in Australian Open historical past.
“I have been in this sort of match earlier than, so I knew what I needed to do. I needed to put my coronary heart into the match. I feel I did it. I fought till the final ball,” Alcaraz stated. I knew that I used to be going to have my probabilities. I used to be passionate, , within the fifth set, however simply extraordinarily proud about myself, the way in which that I felt and the way in which that I got here again.”
Males’s remaining prediction
FanDuel Sportsbook has Alcaraz (-320) as a substantial favourite over Djokovic to win his first Australian Open title. Nonetheless, this looks like future for Djokovic contemplating there is probably not many extra probabilities at historical past for the Serbian star. If he can get a lead towards Alcaraz early and never need to play from behind the place age might be a think about a four- to five-hour match, Djokovic would maintain a transparent benefit. There’s significantly extra stress on Alcaraz to get it finished inside Rod Laver Enviornment than Djokovic, who’s a transparent underdog. With a win, Djokovic would develop into the oldest grand slam winner within the Open period and surpass Margaret Court docket for probably the most grand slam titles all time. Decide: Djokovic in 4 units.
