Who: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic
What: Males’s singles ultimate – Australian Open 2026
When: Sunday, February 1 at 19:30 (08:30 GMT)
The place: Rod Laver Area, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Methods to observe: Al Jazeera’s reside textual content and picture stream will get beneath method at 05:30 GMT
Novak Djokovic stands one step away from cementing his place as the best tennis participant of all time. In his method, although, is Carlos Alcaraz – a contemporary adversary searching for a profession milestone of his personal.
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Tennis historical past shall be rewritten when the pair meet within the males’s singles ultimate of the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday.
Djokovic is searching for his twenty fifth main title to go previous Margaret Courtroom within the all-time Grand Slam winners’ checklist within the Open Period, whereas Alcaraz – 16 years his junior – is trying to develop into the youngest participant to finish a Profession Grand Slam by successful the one one eluding his trophy cupboard.
At 38 years previous, the Serb is already the oldest man to have certified for a Grand Slam ultimate, however he shall be trying to profit from his look in Sunday’s blockbuster ultimate to seal a record-extending twenty fifth males’s title.
In the meantime, Alcaraz, who was the final man to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam ultimate at Wimbledon 2024, will intention to transform his debut ultimate on the Australian Open into an evening when he seals a profession Slam.
Each males enter the match on the again of epic semifinal wins on Rod Laver Area on Friday, with prime seed and world primary Alcaraz having a barely longer restoration interval than fourth-seeded Djokovic.
What’s the Alcaraz-Djokovic tennis rivalry?
Within the 5 years since his first look in the principle spherical of a Grand Slam, Alcaraz has swiftly develop into the face of males’s tennis, and his temporary historical past with the long-lasting Djokovic is commonly seen as a passing-of-the-baton inter-generational rivalry.
Alcaraz is understood for his velocity and energy, whereas Djokovic depends on his expertise, consistency and resilience to fend off the subsequent era of tennis skills.
The younger Spaniard’s first assembly in opposition to Djokovic got here on the Madrid Open in 2022, the place the house favorite beat the veteran in straight units.
Since then, the pair have met in Grand Slam settings on 5 events, with Alcaraz successful each finals however Djokovic rising victorious on the Olympics to finish his Profession Tremendous Slam.
General, the Serb edges his rival by 5 wins to 4 of their 9 conferences.
Alcaraz vs Djokovic: Head-to-head
Profession win-loss file
- Djokovic: 1163/233
- Alcaraz: 280/65
Profession titles:
- Djokovic: 101
- Alcaraz: 24
Profession prize cash:
- Djokovic: $191.2m
- Alcaraz: $60m
Yr turned professional:
- Djokovic: 2003
- Alcaraz: 2018
Alcaraz at Grand Slams
Titles: 6
French Open: 2024, 2025
Wimbledon: 2023, 2024
US Open: 2022, 2025
Djokovic at Grand Slams
Titles: 24
Australian Open: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
French Open: 2016, 2021, 2023
Wimbledon: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
US Open: 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023
Who gained the final Alcaraz-Djokovic match?
Their final encounter was within the semifinals of the US Open 2025, the place eventual champion Alcaraz was too sturdy for the four-time winner Djokovic.
The match ended 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in Alcaraz’s favour.
How did Alcaraz attain the Australian Open 2026 ultimate?
An ailing Alcaraz battled previous Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic to achieve his first Australian Open ultimate in a match lasting 5 hours and 27 minutes. The world primary outlasted the German third seed in sizzling situations with a cramping physique.
Highway to the ultimate:
- First spherical: Beat Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-2
- Second spherical: Beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2
- Third spherical: Beat Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
- Fourth spherical: Beat Tommy Paul 7-6(7-6), 6-4, 7-5
- Quarterfinal: Beat Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1
- Semifinal: Beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5
How did Djokovic attain the Australian Open 2026 ultimate?
Djokovic shocked reigning champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday, with the veteran turning again the clock to upset the Italian in a gruelling four-hour-nine-minute match.
Highway to the ultimate:
- First spherical: Beat Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
- Second spherical: Beat Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
- Third spherical: Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(7-4)
- Fourth spherical: Beat Jakub Mensik by way of walkover
- Quarterfinal: Beat Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 retired
- Semifinal: Beat Jannik Sinner 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
What’s being stated concerning the Djokovic-Alcaraz Australian Open ultimate?
Tennis consultants, followers and former champions have been weighing in on what guarantees to be a contemporary epic.
Rafael Nadal: “I feel the favorite is Carlos. He’s younger, he has the power and he’s in his prime. However I imply, Novak is Novak. He’s a really particular participant. I feel it’s a constructive instance of dedication, of resilience. Novak, for apparent causes, just isn’t at his prime, however he’s nonetheless very, very aggressive at an age that’s troublesome to be very aggressive. So full respect.”
Andy Roddick: “Man regrets inspiring youngster.”
How a lot is the prize cash for the Australian Open champion?
The lads’s singles champion and runner-up will obtain $2.9m and $1.5m, respectively, from the entire match prize cash of $78.1m.
Methods to stream and observe the Australian Open 2026 ultimate?
Al Jazeera’s build-up to the ultimate will start at 05:30 GMT, earlier than the reside rating, picture and textual content commentary stream from 08:30 GMT.
