Superman Djokovic stuns Sinner to reach 11th Melbourne final

Novak Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to take down two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to line up in a second straight battle of the generations at the Australian Open.

The epic semi-final which lasted for nearly four and a quarter hours, followed on from the five-and-a-half-hours it took Carlos Alcaraz to conclude his  6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 defeat of Alexander Zvererv in the days’ first semi-final 

Djokovic will take on the 24-year-old Spaniard on Sunday evening, having played Alcaraz in two previous Grand Slam finals; the youngster who tops the rankings won their last match, a US Open semi-final last September.

Djokovic finished up his comeback from two sets to one down as he broke Italy’s Sinner in the seventh game of the final set, then saved three break points to hold for 5-3 with his 12th ace.

The 38-year-old won it moments later as Sinner put a forehand wide on Djokovic’s third match point.

The winner will be playing the Sunday final for history with a record 25th Grand Slam singles title on the line.

“I’m at a loss for words right now, to be honest,” the stunned winner said. “It feels unreal. The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extra high.

“I knew I had only a chance to win against him, since he beat me in our last five matches.

“I told him at the net thanks for at least allowing me at least one (win).”

Sinner failed to capitalise on eight break chances in the fifth set – five in Djokovic’s first two service games.

The Italian also extended his losing streak in matches which last for more than three hour, 50 minutes.

“it was a very important Slam for me,” Sinner said. “It was a good match from both of us. I had many chances. Couldn’t use them, and that’s the outcome.

Yeah, it hurts, for sure.” 

Djokovic said he will concentrate on prepping for the Sunday final and called the semi-final “one of the best atmospheres that I’ve ever had in Australia.”.

He said he is eager to get stuck into the final. “I know I have to come back and fight the No. 1 of the world.

“I hope I will have enough to stay toe to toe with him. That’s my desire – then we can let the gods decide the winner.”

The Djokovic triumph ended well into Saturday at around 1:30 a.m., with the 38-year-old clenching his 11th final at Melbourne Park.