MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — In a moment of exhaustion and elation, Novak Djokovic recognized Margaret Court in the crowd and thanked her for staying up so late to watch him get within a single victory of becoming the most decorated tennis player of all time.

Carlos Alcaraz arrived at Rod Laver Arena chasing the one major title missing from his resume to secure the career Grand Slam. However, for the opening stretch of the Australian Open finale, Novak Djokovic continued to dictate the court.

Novak Djokovic was nowhere to be seen around Melbourne Park after booking his place in the Australian Open final. Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner for the first time in over two years, securing his first Grand Slam final appearance since Wimbledon 2024.

Novak Djokovic called it one of his best performances in a decade after outlasting Jannik Sinner early Saturday in a five-set marathon to set up an Australian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz.Asked by reporters where he rated his display,

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has added layers to his legacy even in missing out on the 25th title he craved.

In a moment of exhaustion and elation, Novak Djokovic recognised Margaret Court in the crowd and thanked her for staying up so late to watch him get within a single victory of becoming the most decorated tennis player of all time.

Novak Djokovic delivered a vintage performance against Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open semifinal. The thrilling five-set match did not end until the early hours of the morning, but it served as a reminder of why Djokovic is the greatest player of all time.