Australian Open men’s semi-finals predictions: Alcaraz and Sinner should ease into final with little fuss
Australian Open date, start time & TV info
Date Sunday, January 17 to Sunday, February 1
Starts Semi-finals from 3.30am GMT on Friday
Venue Melbourne Park, Melbourne
TV TNT Sports & Discovery+
Australian Open men’s semi-finals betting tips & predictions
Carlos Alcaraz to win 3-0 vs Alexander Zverev
1pt 5-4 bet365
Jannik Sinner to win 3-0 vs Novak Djokovic
2pts 4-6 Hills
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Australian Open men’s semi-finals preview
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev predictions (3.30am Friday)
Punters face a difficult choice trying to decide how easily Carlos Alcaraz can see off Alexander Zverev in the first of the Australian Open men’s singles semi-finals in Melbourne on Friday morning, but the Spanish top seed has been showing signs of dominating the German more in their recent meetings so it could pay to place some faith in the world number one.
Zverev has always been capable of making life difficult for the shorter Alcaraz. But the Murcian has travelled to Australia this year with a sizeable point to prove after coming up short in the season’s first Grand Slam – it’s the only major he needs to join the ranks of legends who have won all four Slam singles titles – and having parted company with his long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Alcaraz has already achieved his best performance at Melbourne Park – he went out at the quarter-final stage in 2024 and 2025 – and things could get a good deal better for him in the coming days.
Alcaraz’s need to step up has resulted in him coasting through to the last four without dropping a set. But even 19th seed Tommy Paul put up a terrific fight in round four, and the level of competition rises further with two rounds remaining.
It’s six wins apiece in Alcaraz’s personal series with Zverev – that statistic alone means that punters shouldn’t rush their bets on this encounter – but the reigning French and US Open champion has enjoyed the better of most of his recent run-ins with Zverev.
Alcaraz has won three of their last four meetings, three of which were on hard courts. His only loss to the powerful German since January 2024 came in the indoor ATP Finals later that year. And, like the Aussie Open, Alcaraz has yet to win that tournament, although he went close at the end of last season.
So, with many positives and looking fresh for the challenge, it could pay to give Alcaraz the benefit of the doubt and back him for a convincing statement win against Zverev in double-quick time. He and his camp will be well aware of the need to conserve energy in this most demanding of Slams, a heat-filled fortnight which takes place just two weeks after the season starts.
Alcaraz, who won 77 per cent of first-service points in his 7-5 6-2 6-1 quarter-final victory over Alex de Minaur, is odds-against to progress to the final with a sixth consecutive straight-sets triumph and that looks the value.
Defending Aussie Open champ Jannik Sinner has made serene progress to the last fourCredit: Anadolu via Getty Images
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner (8.30am Friday)
The Australian Open was Novak Djokovic’s favourite Slam in his pomp. The 38-year-old Serb won the title ten times and has been bidding to roll back the years in recent days, but the sport’s grandest old man, who has failed to hold a candle to big two Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz in recent seasons, was dealt a reminder in his Melbourne Park quarter-final outing that things are only going to get harder on court in general.
Djokovic can count himself hugely fortunate to even be stepping out on to court in the second semi-final against Sinner on Friday morning. The admirable Lorenzo Musetti, who is getting better and better despite still being in the shadow of his fellow Italian Sinner, led Djokovic by two sets to nil on Rod Laver Court before having to retire early when a break down in set three.
Musetti’s best years are still to come, but the scoreline is likely to be of immense use to punters eyeing an interest on Djokovic’s next outing.
Sinner leads Djokovic 6-4 in terms of previous meetings but the second seed has won his last five encounters in that series and the last nine sets the pair have contested.
The reigning champion eased past improving American Ben Shelton 6-3 6-4 6-4 in three sets on Wednesday, when the world number two won 78 per cent of his first-serve points, and it’s difficult to see how Djokovic can win a set against the Dolomites ace, let alone two or three.
Sinner is 4-6 to make it five straight-sets victories in six outings – Eliot Spizzirri won a set against Darren Cahill’s charge in round three – and it could be a brave punter who backs Djokovic to win at least a set.
Australian Open FAQs
Where is the 2026 Australian Open?
The tournament is held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Where can I watch the Australian Open in the UK?
TNT Sports and Discovery+ are the exclusive broadcasters for the Australian Open in the UK this year.
Every match will be available to stream live on Discovery+, while TNT Sports will provide linear TV coverage.
Who are the favourites for the men’s Australian Open?
Reigning champion Jannik Sinner has gone odds-on to retain his crown and is 19-20 to win a third Aussie Open title. Carlos Alcaraz, who would join the ranks of players to have won all four majors with victory this weekend, is 6-5. Novak Djokovic is 20-1 for an 11th singles title at Melbourne Park with Alexander Zverev the outsider of the four at 25-1.
Read more on the Australian Open:
Men’s Australian Open: Super Sinner tough to stop in hat-trick bid
Women’s Australian Open: Sabalenka can regain Melbourne crown
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