Djokovic sets a record with his 11th Australian Open final appearance, the 38-year-old legend redefines immortality with a comeback.

On the night of January 30th Beijing time, the clock at Melbourne Park’s Rod Laver Arena showed 1:32 AM on January 31st, yet no one left. The 38-year-old Novak Djokovic triumphed over defending champion Sinner in a grueling 4-hour and 9-minute battle, winning 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

This Serbian legend not only ended a five-match losing streak against Sinner but also became the oldest male singles finalist at the Australian Open in the Open Era at 38 years and 255 days old.

Before the match, nearly everyone was talking about the passing of the torch. Djokovic had lost to Sinner five times in a row, dropping all ten recent sets.Sinner, as a two-time defending champion, entered the court riding a 19-match winning streak at the Australian Open, aiming for a third consecutive title.

The first set seemed to confirm this prediction, with Sinner breaking serve early and taking it 6-3. At the end of the third set, Djokovic’s first serve percentage dropped, allowing Sinner to seize a crucial break and lead 6-4 again.

The turning point came in the fourth set. Djokovic broke serve right away, showing his unyielding determination. After missing two set points at the end, he converted the third, pushing the match into a deciding set.

In the final set, Djokovic displayed why he is called the clutch point master. In the seventh game, facing a 15-40 deficit, he won four consecutive points to secure a critical break.In the following eighth game, on the brink of 0-40, he rallied to win five straight points and hold serve. These two games epitomized the entire match.

Statistically, Sinner seemed to have the edge: he led with 26 aces to 12 and had more total points won, 152 to Djokovic’s 140. However, tennis is rarely decided by numbers alone.

The decisive factor was break point efficiency: Sinner created 18 break points but converted only 2; Djokovic seized 3 out of 8 chances. In the final set, Djokovic saved all 8 break points against him.

After the match, Djokovic admitted this encounter reminded him of the nearly six-hour 2012 Australian Open final against Nadal, widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in tennis history, now carrying a new legacy.

Djokovic humorously told Sinner at the net, “Thanks for letting me win one against you in recent years.” Behind this joke lies a veteran’s respect for his younger rival and affirmation of his own perseverance.

This victory allowed Djokovic to set multiple records. At 38 years and 255 days, he became the oldest male singles finalist at the Australian Open in the Open Era, surpassing Ken Rosewall’s 37 years and 54 days record set in 1972.

More importantly, Djokovic extended his Australian Open final appearances to 11, having won all previous 10 finals with a perfect 100% success rate. This is one of the most dominant performances by any player at a single tournament in tennis history.

After the match, Sinner showed great sportsmanship. “He has won 24 Grand Slam titles; he is the greatest player ever,” said the Italian player. “He proved it once again. I will take this as a lesson.”

At the press conference, Djokovic especially thanked the doubters: “I want to thank all of them because they gave me strength.”

He confessed that many experts had repeatedly suggested he should retire over the past years, but those doubts only fueled his motivation to prove he can still compete.

This match held special significance for Djokovic. In the 2025 season, he had lost to young rivals like Alcaraz and Sinner in several major tournaments.The tennis world began to question whether the era of the Big Three had finally ended, but Djokovic’s performance showed that as long as he is on the court, history is still his to write.

Now, Djokovic’s focus turns to the final on February 1st, where he will face the top seed, 22-year-old Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz.This will be a classic clash between generations with a 16-year age difference. In their previous nine encounters, Djokovic holds a narrow 5-4 lead.

For Alcaraz, this is the last piece to complete his career Grand Slam; for Djokovic, it is a chance to claim an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title.If successful, he will surpass Margaret Court to hold the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in tennis history.

Djokovic’s post-match remarks were both realistic and determined: “I just hope I still have enough fuel to compete against him until the end.” Behind this seemingly modest statement lies two decades of experience and confidence.

I imagine when Djokovic steps onto the court for the final, his bag will carry a winner’s jacket embroidered with the number 25. Rod LaverArena’s blue hard courts have witnessed him lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup ten times. After each victory, he returns even stronger. As a Djokovic fan, I deeply wish to see him wear that jacket with the number 25 and raise his 25th Grand Slam trophy. Go, great Djokovic!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)