Sinner can't stop Djoković – Novak reaches the Australian Open final! VIDEO

After the historic semifinal between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, the clash between Djokovic and Sinner was no less spectacular.

Although many doubted it would happen, especially after the opening set that Sinner won, Djokovic seemed, without breaking a sweat…

Still, Djokovic proved that no one can stop him—that he is a mental fortress even in his fourth decade of life; that he can vomit, take medication, be on the edge of collapse, and still rise like a phoenix. He overcame the resilient 24-year-old to reach another final in his career.

It took Novak a long time to find his rhythm, and he practically started "straight out of the locker room" down 0-3, a deficit that allowed the Italian to take the first set in 38 minutes of tennis.

But once Novak got into rhythm and brought Sinner along with him, everything became much easier. The first break came naturally.

It happened in the fourth game of the second set—he missed two break points, but the third was the charm. In the very next game, he even saved three break points.

Sinner had later opportunities for a break as well, but Djokovic, like a phoenix, kept rising “from the ashes,” using his serves to survive each time.

By the end, the pattern of the second set mirrored the first: an early break followed by holding serve, bringing Djokovic level at 1-1.

The third set was the toughest, at least from Novak’s perspective. He literally staggered across the court several times, barely breathing. He complained of chest pains and asked his team for a pill, yet kept pace with his, at the time, firing opponent.

However, just as the medicine was about to take effect and the set looked headed for a tiebreak, Djokovic faltered while serving to stay in the set. He looked visibly weak on the court, and Sinner seized the moment to attack and convert the second of three consecutive set points.

It all resembled a Hollywood blockbuster scene from Rocky III, where the "old" underdog Balboa takes punches from Ivan Drago but barely feels them.

In the fourth set, a new counterattack from Rocky—pardon, Novak Djokovic—began. He broke immediately at the start and seized control.

Game by game, Djokovic looked physically stronger, and combined with consolidated serving, he maintained his lead.

In the game to win the set at 5-4, he first missed two set points but converted the third, sending the match into a fifth set after three hours and 15 minutes of intense battle.

Sofascore

The start of the decisive set didn’t look promising… The Serbian ace was under immense pressure in his first two service games, as the Italian reached break points and seemed far more confident on the court. Yet, Djokovic managed to find a way out each time and hold serve, even when the situation seemed alarming.

It wasn’t until his third service game that Novak began to stabilize, and then came the turning point that completely changed the course of the set.

The key game was the seventh—Sinner led 40-15 and was one point away from taking the game, but Novak showed incredible perseverance. On the point that leveled the score, he demonstrated his strength and mental toughness, then won four consecutive points to secure a big break for 4-3.

The excitement didn’t end there. The Italian immediately tried to fight back and quickly reached his sixth, seventh, and eighth break points of the set. Three consecutive chances, yet still not enough to break Djokovic.

The Serbian then won five points in a row, fending off his rival’s surge once again and proving that he plays his best at the crucial moments.

In the match’s final stretch, Novak reached his first two match points but couldn’t convert them. However, the third opportunity proved fatal for Sinner—Djokovic seized it, closed out the match, and celebrated another monumental victory in tears.

In the final on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., he will face the world No. 1 – Carlos Alcaraz.