Novak Djokovic produced another remarkable display of resilience and experience to defeat Jannik Sinner in a five-set semifinal, surviving sustained pressure and punishing missed opportunities to book his place in the Australian Open final.
Both players delivered stretches of outstanding tennis in a match defined by explosive shot-making, heavy serving and razor-thin margins, with momentum swinging repeatedly over more than four hours of play.
First set: Sinner strikes early with aggressive serving
Sinner began the match at full intensity, breaking Djokovic early to move ahead 2–0 and never relinquishing control of the opening set. Djokovic created a single break opportunity but was unable to convert.
The Italian’s serve proved decisive, as he fired six aces and dominated the winners count 15–5. Djokovic’s higher number of unforced errors ultimately tilted the set in Sinner’s favor.
Second set: Djokovic cleans up his game and responds
Djokovic responded by reducing his error count and increasing his aggression. The Serb earned the first break of the second set at 2–1 and consolidated it for a 4–1 lead, saving three break points in a crucial service game.
Although Sinner again finished the set with slightly more winners and fewer unforced errors, Djokovic’s frequent success at the net proved decisive as he closed out the set 6–3.
Third set: Sinner regains control with relentless pressure
The third set followed a pattern similar to the opener, with Sinner once again dictating play through heavy baseline aggression and powerful serving.
At 5–4, Sinner broke Djokovic to take the set 6–4, moving ahead two sets to one. The Italian again dominated the winners count 16–5, while unforced errors remained evenly matched, underlining his attacking efficiency.
Fourth set: Djokovic withstands pressure to force a decider
Djokovic started the fourth set aggressively, breaking early and holding firm to establish a 2–0 lead. The set turned at 4–3 when Djokovic faced two break points on serve but managed to escape trouble.
He went on to secure the set 6–4, once again demonstrating his composure under pressure. Despite Sinner finishing with one more winner, Djokovic’s ability to absorb pressure and close out key games sent the match into a fifth set.
Fifth set: Experience proves decisive as Djokovic capitalizes
Sinner began the deciding set strongly, creating multiple break opportunities in the early games but failing to convert. Those missed chances proved costly.
Djokovic seized the initiative in the seventh game, earning the decisive break for a 4–3 lead. Under intense pressure once again, Djokovic saved three break points from 0–40 on his own serve to move ahead 5–3.
Sinner held once more, but Djokovic served out the match calmly, closing the fifth set 6–4 and sealing victory.
Missed chances and fine margins decide an epic battle
Sinner’s aggressive approach produced high winner counts throughout the match, but his inability to convert key break points in the final set ultimately shifted the outcome.
Djokovic, fifteen years Sinner’s senior, once again demonstrated why his experience and mental strength remain decisive at the highest level, punishing lapses and rising in the most important moments.
The victory sends Djokovic into the Australian Open final after another marathon contest, reinforcing his status as one of the greatest competitors the sport has ever seen.
For broader context on the stakes and significance of this semifinal matchup, read our full Australian Open 2026: Day 13 Preview.
By Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91915217
By Like tears in rain – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166260983