After all-time semis, history hangs on the AO final. One man will set record that may never be broken

With the clock ticking toward the bewitching hour at Melbourne Park on Saturday, the corridors adjoining Rod Laver Arena were a hive of activity despite the ungodly time.

As an impromptu studio was built to host the arrival of the King, and a suitable throne found for his comfort, powerbrokers flitted round an increasingly busy scene nearing 3am.

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Jannik Sinner appeared from behind a curtain, his face ashen after crossing paths with a supernatural being, for how else to explain the otherworldy performance of Novak Djokovic.

The world No.2 edged past the cameramen and journalists who had gathered to witness the King’s speech, though no doubt he had a few questions of his own for the mighty one.

Eventually Djokovic appeared and took his position on the white chair, presented immaculately in a Lacoste polo and stylish pants, an attire he might wear to a country club.

More likely he was heading straight home to bed to begin his recovery, but a jittery right leg as he spoke betrayed the fact that adrenaline was still pulsing through his body.

It is not surprising. Djokovic had just ended the Australian Open defence of Sinner, in the process ending a five match losing streak against him while serving notice to the world.

The 38-year-old may be without a grand slam title for the past two years, but it was folly to write him off, and he was still more than capable of producing tennis of the highest level.

John McEnroe argued that in running down Sinner, and denying him repeatedly on break point in the deciding set, he produced arguably his greatest performance ever.

The 10-time Australian Open champion was not as sold on that idea, but he did say it was clearly his best effort in a two-year period dominated by Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t dare to call it the finest ever, but (it is) definitely the finest in the last couple of years,” he said.

“Under the circumstances and in the semis against Sinner, who has been playing best tennis of his life (for the) last couple of years, particularly here, two-time defending champion, it doesn’t get better than this.

“Honestly, when I started my preparations for the new season and kind of set the goals, it’s no secret that the grand slams are where I want to play my best tennis.

“But it becomes more difficult for me to motivate myself and I ask myself questions. You know, ‘okay, what is it that I’m looking for from myself?’.

“I was imagining playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of grand slams this year and battling it out and really giving it all that I have.”

In giving it all that he had, Djokovic has set up an Australian Open final of historical significance against Alcaraz, the world No.1 and six-time major champion.

Djokovic is vying for a 25th grand slam title that would end chatter surrounding his tie with Margaret Court, though there is a strong argument that should not be considered at all.

More relevant is that, aged 38, he would become the oldest man to win a grand slam title, an honour currently held by Australian Ken Rosewall for his success aged 37 in the 1972 AO.

His rival, meanwhile, is seeking to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam at the age of 22, an honour currently held by American Don Budge.

It is 88 years since Budge completed the feat. Rosewall’s success came 54 years ago. Given the time span those two records have held for, an argument can be made that the victor on Sunday night will claim an honour that may never be broken.

It is an Australian Open final for the ages in more than one regard. And Novak is not alone in saying he cannot wait for the chance to have a crack at a man 16 years his junior.

Alcaraz was planning to keep an eye on a semifinal that progressed beyond midnight and then 1am with Djokovic and Sinner still belting the ball with astonishing power and precision.

That may well have proven true, for the Spaniard had a lengthy break after his triumph over Zverev before attending a press conference that occurred near 11pm on Friday.

He had already received treatment for the cramp that afflicted him severely midway through his five set epic against the German and was planning on further visits to the masseuse.

Djokovic has been defiant in the press since his fortunate progression against Lorenzo Musetti, who retired through injury while leading the Serbian by two sets in a quarterfinal.

He took umbrage at a question regarding his current pursuit of Sinner and Alcaraz and then lashed out at those he claimed would rather see him retired than delivering almighty tennis.

“I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself, you know,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people that doubt me. I see there (are) a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me or have retired me many times the last couple of years.

“I want to thank them all, because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong, which I have tonight. For me, it’s not a surprise, to be honest.”

But Djokovic is not the only finalist who feels as though they have something to prove even though, clearly, neither man does to anyone bar themselves given their magnificence.

Prior to this year, the Australian Open had proven a hoodoo for Alcaraz, who was last year bounced out of the tournament by Djokovic in four sets.

In fact, the right-hander had never progressed beyond the quarterfinals before dashing Alex de Minaur’s dream on Tuesday.

Alcaraz is also playing his first tournament without his long-term mentor Juan Carlos Ferrero as his shepherd, a man guiding him to glory against the greats. But he is driven to succeed.

There was a symbolic image in the instant after Zverev failed to handle the tricky low backhand volley that ended his hopes of reaching a second straight AO final.

As Alcaraz slumped to the ground in elation, a few metres behind him Alexander Zverev Snr, the German’s father and coach, can be seen tossing a white towel in dismay.

Zverev had given his all. That is beyond doubt. But the white flag had been waved again.

Alcaraz later said he would never again give up in a match, because to do so would “kill him”. He was hurting against Zverev. But there was no way he would wave the white flag.

How the pair pull up will be fascinating. Logic suggests both would have been sore on Saturday and neither man was planning much more than a decent sleep and stretching.

Alcaraz has both his youth and additional time to recover from his semifinal. Djokovic is a marvel who has played fewer matches and sets by virtue of a charmed path.

After his triumph over Sinner, dual-Australian Open champion Jim Courier reminded the Serbian that he had said in New York last September how hard it was to match the top two.

The 38-year-old corrected Courier. Difficult, yes, but not impossible, as he had just proven.

But to defeat Sinner, Djokovic had to cover almost a kilometre more than his rival had. His endurance is legendary, so too his fight to hold off Father Time. But it was exacting tennis.

As much as he bristled when queried as to how it felt to come full circle in a career where he started off chasing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who will be courtside on Sunday, and now be in pursuit of Sinner and Alcaraz – and yes, there are the 24 grand slams and so on – there is a truth to what he said in New York and a historical reference to consider as well.

When the Big Three were in their prime, rivals including Andy Murray would say that it was possible to knock off one of the trio, but the intensity left you vulnerable in the next one.

Sinner and Alcaraz are mounting similar obstacles for rivals, even a legend like Djokovic.

“My preparation is as it should be, and I won against him last year here, also in a grueling match. Let’s see. Let’s see how fresh we both are,” Djokovic said.

“He also had a big match, but he has 15, 16 years on me. You know, biologically I think it’s going to be a bit easier for him to recover.”

Djokovic, though, can take confidence from the fact he has beaten Sinner after the Italian enjoyed a near two year period of dominance over him. His record against Alcaraz is better.

He beat him in Melbourne last year. He edged him in the thrilling Paris Olympics final that provided him with the only jewel he was yet to claim while wounding the Spaniard.

Djokovic also knows that Alcaraz is prone to cramping on big stages. It happened on Friday. And it also happened in a semi-final against the legend at Roland Garros in 2023. The bigger the stakes, the more tension there is in a match, and that can cause cramps.

With history on the line on Sunday night, it is certain both players will feel some anxiety.

Alcaraz has made no secret of how important this Australian Open is to him, declaring it an effective no-brainer when asked whether he would swap success on Sunday for guaranteed triumphs in the other three majors this year.

“I would choose this one. Yeah, if I make the final of the other three … I would say I rather win this one than the three and complete the Grand Slam and be the youngest ever to do it,” he said.

Leading into Djokovic’s semi-final against Sinner, foxsports.com.au quoted acclaimed Australian tennis strategist Craig O’Shannessy, who noted a stat that could help the Serb.

Djokovic had been dynamic in winning “decisive points” in matches throughout the Australian Open, with the fifth set of the semifinal proving the perfect demonstration of this healthy trait.

Frequently under pressure when serving, he somehow found a way, with the accuracy of his slice serve wide and his ability to pinpoint the lines on break points immense under duress.

Djokovic enters the final having won 70 per cent of the decisive points he has played. As for Alcaraz … he too has won 70 per cent of those critical points on his serve.

So where else might an advantage be gleaned?

Djokovic leads the head-to-head 6-4 but the Spaniard won their most recent encounter in straight sets at the US Open.

They have played four finals and split the difference, with Djokovic triumphant in the Olympics and the final of the Cincinnati Masters in 2023, a decider that was incredible.

Alcaraz’s triumphs came in his back-to-back triumphs at Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024.

What is indisputable is that Djokovic has the record at Melbourne Park. He is nearly invincible in night matches on Rod Laver Arena and is the perfect 10 in AO finals.

Assisting his cause is the fact that after a sizzling tournament, the temperature will be dipping to the mid-teens by midway through the final, which will blunt Alcaraz’s spin.

Who wins? The great Nadal, who won 29 of the 60 matches he played against Djokovic before handing the Spanish baton of greatness to Alcaraz, was put on the spot on Saturday.

“If Novak wins, I will be happy for him, because in some ways, (it is) quite spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career. So I will be happy. It won’t be a drama for me. But if I have to support someone, I feel (I have to) support Carlos,” he said.

Nadal was sitting on the fence. But that might be because this one is too tough to call. Anyone who happened to witness their semi-finals will hope the decider proves just as dramatic. And that would truly be a decider for the ages.