Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final after being pushed to his physical and mental limits in a thrilling five-set victory over Jannik Sinner in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 38-year-old Serb produced a remarkable display of resilience to overcome the two-time defending champion 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a marathon match that ended at 1:32 am in Melbourne.

Djokovic now meets top seed Alcaraz in Sunday’s final, with history on the line. Victory over the 22-year-old Spaniard would hand him a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, moving him clear of Margaret Court, with whom he is currently tied on 24 majors. Court was present at Rod Laver Arena to witness the drama.

Alcaraz booked his place in the final earlier with a five-set victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev, overcoming fitness concerns in a gripping semi-final of his own.

After four hours and nine minutes of gripping tennis, Djokovic dropped to his knees in exhaustion and emotion, momentarily lost for words.

“It feels surreal, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who had lost his previous five meetings with Sinner. “The intensity and quality of tennis were extremely high, and I knew that was the only way for me to have a chance tonight.”

“Joking aside, I told him at the net, thanks for allowing me at least one win in the last couple of years,” he added. “I have tremendous respect for him. He’s an incredible player who pushes you to the very limit, and that’s exactly what he did.”

With age and injuries increasingly testing him, Sunday’s final may represent Djokovic’s best opportunity to claim a long-awaited 25th major. His last Grand Slam triumph came at the US Open in 2023, with Alcaraz and Sinner dominating the men’s game since.

Sinner started the match in commanding fashion, breaking Djokovic early to race into a 3-0 lead. The Italian was sharp and confident, sealing the opening set with powerful serving and precise groundstrokes.

Djokovic responded in the second set, breaking for a 3-1 advantage and saving three break points before levelling the match with a stunning crosscourt forehand on set point.

Midway through the third set, Djokovic appeared to struggle physically, briefly clutching his chest before slumping into his chair. Sinner took advantage, breaking at 5-4 to regain the lead.

However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion refused to surrender. As the clock ticked past midnight, Djokovic broke early in the fourth set and forced a deciding fifth.

In the final set, tension reached its peak as Sinner missed several chances to seize control. Djokovic capitalised, breaking for a 4-3 lead and holding firm to move within touching distance of an 11th Australian Open final.

Sinner saved two match points at 4-5, but Djokovic eventually closed out the contest on his third opportunity.

The former world number one remains the undisputed master of Melbourne Park, having lifted the trophy 10 times. Despite admitting he had been fortunate at times in the tournament and accepting his underdog status against Sinner, Djokovic once again delivered when it mattered most.

He benefited from retirements by Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals and Jakub Mensik earlier in the competition, but his battling performance in the semi-final underlined that he still has plenty left at the highest level.

Djokovic reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams last season without progressing further. Now, one victory stands between him and a place in tennis history.