'He had my number, so I changed it!’: Djokovic cracks Sinner curse to reach Australian Open final

At close to 2 am in Melbourne, when Rod Laver Arena had been pushed to the brink of exhaustion, Novak Djokovic did what he has done better than anyone in the Open Era: endure, adapt, and win.

Against Jannik Sinner, the man who had beaten him five times in a row, Djokovic summoned a blend of steel and self-deprecating humour that only heightened the theatre of a gripping Australian Open semifinal.

“The level of intensity and the quality of tennis was extremely high,” Djokovic said, acknowledging the mountain he had to climb. Then came the punchline that broke the tension: “He won the last five matches against me. He had my mobile number, so I had to change my number for tonight. Jokes aside, I told him at the net: ‘Thanks for allowing me at least one.’”

However, there was nothing funny about the physical and emotional toll. Djokovic, the fourth seed, was tearful in the immediate aftermath, searching for words after a four-hour-plus battle that stretched deep into the night.

“I’m lost for words right now, to be honest. Oh my God, where should I start? It feels surreal,” he said, recalling the echoes of his 2012 Melbourne epic against Rafael Nadal that lasted nearly six hours.

This victory was not just about beating Sinner. It was about time itself. Chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, Djokovic has now become the oldest man in the Open Era to reach an Australian Open final. It will be his 11th final in Melbourne, a men’s record, and his 38th Grand Slam final overall, more than any player in history.

The reward is a generational collision. Djokovic will rekindle his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz after the world No.1 engineered his own astonishing five-set win over Alexander Zverev. It is the sport’s ultimate contrast: the greatest veteran the game has known against a 22-year-old prodigy chasing history of his own.

While Djokovic aims to become the oldest men’s Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz is trying to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Even here, Djokovic found room for humour. “I saw Carlos after his match, and he told me: ‘I’m sorry to delay the start of your match,’” Djokovic said with a grin. “I told him: ‘I’m an old man, I need to go earlier to sleep.’” Sleep can wait. History is calling again, and Djokovic, tears dried and jokes delivered, is still answering.