Two last-four clashes for the ages — the first a five-hour, 27-minute record-breaker, the latter a four-hour, nine-minute after-dark boilover — completed a most remarkable day.
“I saw Carlos after his match and he told me: ‘I’m sorry to delay the start of your match,’” Djokovic said. “I told him: ‘I’m an old man, I need to go earlier to sleep.’ So, I’m looking forward to seeing him in a few days’ time.”
With 16 years between the two, age-defying history is on the line. Fourth seed Djokovic, having snapped a five-match losing streak to 24-year-old Sinner, stands just one win from a record 25th major singles crown, an 11th at Melbourne Park. He could become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the Open era.
In his first Australian Open final, the 22-year-old Alcaraz is a win shy of becoming the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam.
Posed with the hypothetical choice between the last piece of the puzzle, the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, or claiming the remaining three Slams in 2026 – each of which he has already won twice – Alcaraz gained clarity as the tournament progressed.
“I would choose this one,” he said. “I would say I rather win this one than the three and complete the Grand Slam and be the youngest ever to do it.”
Former Grand Slam champions and world No.1s Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter and Marat Safin, and two-time major finalist Mark Philippoussis told ausopen.com how impressed they were at the evolution of both at opposite ends of their careers.
Grand Slam records clearly fuelled both finalists and Safin said Alcaraz’s age helped alleviate some of those expectations.
