Something remarkable just unfolded at the Australian Open.
Just a day ago, there were complaints that the 2026 tournament had failed to live up to expectations. That’s no longer the case.
That feeling has quickly changed after a pair of incredible semi-finals back-to-back, both lasting over five hours. Alcaraz outlasted Zverev before Djokovic took down Sinner in another epic five-setter.
All four players put on a show under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, and while each deserves credit for their performances, Djokovic stood out once again for how he managed his match against Sinner, coming from behind twice to win in five sets.
Speaking on Channel 9’s coverage, John McEnroe offered his take on what people continue to get wrong about Djokovic.
John McEnroe says everyone assumed ‘pupil’ Jannik Sinner was better than ‘teacher’ Novak Djokovic
“It was the teacher who taught the pupil so well,” he said.
“We sort of assumed that the pupil was just a little better than what the teacher used to do, and a lot younger, and presumably hungrier.
“That’s the other part, how is this guy so hungry and wants it so bad?
“To dig that deep… And believe me, he had to dig super deep to pull this out.”
The 65-year-old then explained how Djokovic produced the perfect performance to beat Sinner.
“I said it before, he’s got to serve huge,” he said.
“He certainly did that!
Novak Djokovic responds in Jannik Sinner rivalry
Djokovic initially held the upper hand over Sinner, going up 3-1 in their head-to-head by early 2023.
But the Italian soon took control, rattling off five straight wins to take a 6-4 lead in their matchup.
It’s a result that seemed unlikely given the way recent matches had gone, but Friday, January 30, 2026, was the exception he and his supporters were waiting for.
There’s no time to dwell on it though. Djokovic now has to recover quickly ahead of another major test.
The world number one awaits him back on Rod Laver Arena with less than two days to prepare.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet again in another Grand Slam final
The last time Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz faced off in a major final was two years ago at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz turned that match into a statement performance, winning 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 on Centre Court. At the time, there was real doubt over whether Djokovic would ever return to another Grand Slam final.
But now, with another opportunity ahead of him, Djokovic has the chance to turn the story back in his favour.
This time around, it’s the Australian Open stage where they’ll meet again. The match is set for Sunday, February 1st.
- READ MORE: PGA Tour winner makes Scottie Scheffler comment after Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev claim
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