Djokovic, after his feat against Sinner: "For me, this victory is almost equivalent to winning a Grand Slam"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 30 Jan 2026 | 17.58

Djokovic, after defeating Sinner: "For me, this victory is almost equivalent to winning a Grand Slam." Photo: Gettyimages.

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There are no adjectives left to define Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, at 38 years old, has once again given a lesson in sacrifice, competitiveness, and passion for tennis. He was up against Jannik Sinner, champion of the last two editions of the Australian Open and the best player in the world, along with Carlos Alcaraz, but the Serbian gave absolutely everything to secure a spot in the grand final.

The match (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4) was an emotional rollercoaster for both players. Either could have won, but the Serbian, supported by an incredible serve and a tactically perfect game plan, gradually shifted the match in his favor until he ultimately clinched it to reach the final where he will battle Carlos Alcaraz for his eleventh Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam. Following his historic victory against Sinner, the level displayed, his chances in the final, and the significance of this success, he discussed in the post-match press conference.

Novak Djokovic considers his victory against Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open as one of the most important in his career

"Honestly, I wouldn't dare say it's the best ever, but yes, undoubtedly, the best in recent years. Due to the circumstances and it being a semifinal against Sinner, who has been playing the best tennis of his life in recent years, particularly here, as a double defending champion, you can't ask for much more than this."

He is meeting his set goal at the beginning of the year

"The truth is, when I started preparing for the new season and set my goals, it's no secret that Grand Slams are where I want to play my best tennis, but it becomes, I believe, more challenging to motivate myself, and I start to ask myself questions. What exactly do I expect from myself? I envisioned playing against Jannik and Carlos in the final rounds of the Grand Slams this year, competing to the maximum and giving it my all."

"So, I feel very fortunate to have experienced this already in the first Grand Slam of the year. It's a big win. I'm very proud, very happy, and also very relieved, as it was a physically demanding and exhausting match."

He does not want to think about the Sunday final against Carlos Alcaraz just yet

"I don't know how I'm going to recover. We'll see. It's almost three in the morning. I can't make any predictions right now. Certainly, I won't train tomorrow. I'll take advantage of every possible hour to recover, and I hope to arrive at the final day feeling somewhat fresher."

He boasts about his level shown post his poor match against Musetti

"I know what I'm capable of. I've had many times in my career Grand Slam matches where you simply don't feel at your best. You try to find a way to win with everything you have, even if the quality of your tennis is far from where you want it to be. That's what happened."

"Also, I was fortunate that Lorenzo got injured and had to retire. Two days later, a different opponent. I knew perfectly well what awaited me on the court and came out with great clarity, a clear strategy, and a well-defined game plan. Obviously, it's easier said than done. One thing is to imagine how you want to play, and another very different thing is to execute it on the court against Sinner, who we all know is at an extremely high level. I am just delighted to experience something like this tonight."

Among his best matches of the last decade

"I think I've already answered that at the beginning. I rate it as the best in recent years and undoubtedly as one of the top performances in the last decade."

The final with Alcaraz will be a match for the history books

"For me, and also for Carlos due to his age and everything he has already achieved, whenever we play, there is history at stake for both of us. A Grand Slam final always holds a lot at stake, but it's no different from any other big match I've played. My preparation must be the right one. Last year, I beat him here in another tough match. We'll see how fresh we both arrive."

"He also had a demanding match, but he is 15 or 16 years younger than me. Biologically, I think it will be a bit easier for him to recover. But I'm very excited. I play tennis competitively mainly to reach the Grand Slam finals. Here I am, so I can't complain about anything. Right now, I'm just trying to enjoy the moment I'm experiencing tonight. I'll think about the final later, but for me, this victory almost equals winning a Grand Slam," says Novak Djokovic as he seeks to make more history in the final of the 2026 Australian Open against Carlos Alcaraz.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic, tras su hazaña ante Sinner: "Para mí esta victoria casi equivale a ganar un Grand Slam"

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