Match Details
Fixture: (1) Carlos Alcaraz vs (4) Novak Djokovic
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Date: February 1, 2026
Tournament: Australian Open
Round: Final
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: A$111,500,000
Live Telecast: USA – ESPN, Tennis Channel | UK – TNT Sports | Canada – TSN, RDS
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic preview
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will face 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open 2026.
Alcaraz advanced to his maiden semifinal in Melbourne without surrendering a set. He ousted Adam Walton, Yannick Hanfmann, Corentin Moutet, Tommy Paul, and Alex de Minaur to set up a semifinal date with Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard captured the first set with a late break of serve, and overturned a 2-5 deficit in the second set before taking the set in a tie-break.
The brutal conditions took a toll on Alcaraz after that. Plagued with cramps and nausea, he fought hard but lost the next two sets. Zverev struck first in the fifth set to go up a break and ultimately led 5-3. Alcaraz raised his level for the final stretch of the contest, sweeping four games on the trot for a 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 win.
Djokovic beat Pedro Martinez, Francesco Maestrelli, and Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets in the first three rounds. A walkover from Jakub Mensik in the fourth round put him in the quarterfinals. Lorenzo Musetti claimed the first two sets of their quarterfinal showdown but retired due to an injury in the third set.
Djokovic was up against two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, who had won their last five meetings. The match had multiple momentum shifts as the players traded sets to level the contest at two-set apiece.
Despite Sinner having multiple break points throughout the fifth set, Djokovic didn’t buckle under pressure. He snagged the only break of serve in the decider and maintained his lead to register a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic head-to-head
Djokovic leads their rivalry 5-4. Alcaraz won their most recent encounter in the semifinals of the US Open 2025 in straight sets.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic odds
(Odds via BetMGM)
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic prediction
Both players gave it their all to win their thrilling semifinal matches in five sets. Djokovic saved an impressive 16 of 18 break points that he faced against Sinner. Alcaraz stopped Zverev from serving out the match in the decider with his fearless tennis to turn the tables on his opponent.
Both are now one win away from rewriting the record books. Djokovic is vying to capture his record 25th Major title, while Alcaraz is eyeing to complete the Career Grand Slam, and could become the youngest man to attain the feat.
Alcaraz previously stopped Djokovic from winning his 25th Major title by beating him in the Wimbledon 2024 final. However, the Serb has outplayed his younger rival under immense pressure on two occasions. He saved three championship points in the Cincinnati Open 2023 final, followed by a clutch performance in the final of the Paris Olympics 2024 to claim the elusive gold medal.
Djokovic has an unblemished 10-0 record in Australian Open finals. He also beat Alcaraz in the quarterfinals here a year ago. The stars seem to have aligned in his favor starting from his lucky break against Musetti, followed by his gritty win over Sinner. Beating two youngsters back-to-back, who are in their prime and dominating the sport, is a tall order for anyone, let alone a 38-year-old. However, if anyone is up to the task, then it’s certainly the GOAT of tennis.
Pick: Novak Djokovic to win in four sets.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have at least 38 games.
Tip 2: There will be at least one tie-break.
Edited by Rohit
