The mind of a 38-year-old champion – Firstpost

Most of the players across any sport would be considered past their prime at the age of 38. However,
Novak Djokovic showed on Friday night at Rod Laver Arena that age is just a number when it comes to belief. Despite all his accolades and titles, Djokovic was the underdog in this match against Jannik Sinner, a player 14 years his junior who had beaten him five times in a row. And yet, he found a way to win.

Sinner and
Carlos Alcaraz are considered the new leaders of tennis, while Djokovic is now seen as the one chasing the pack. But the Serb used that doubt as motivation and showed what he can do even at this age. “I never stopped doubting, I never stopped believing in myself,” Djokovic said after his 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, semifinal victory against Sinner on Friday.

“There’s a lot of people that doubt me, and there’s a lot of experts, all of a sudden, that wanted to retire me, or we have retired me many times in the last couple of years. But I want to thank them all because they gave me strength, they gave me motivation to prove them wrong, which I have tonight,” he added.

An emotional night 🥲@DjokerNole • #AO26 pic.twitter.com/YDvjaXxGwj

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2026

Where the match was really won

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Sinner started strong, and it looked like the young Italian would take control in the first half. He was using his serve as a weapon, firing down 26 aces, the most in a match in his career. It seemed that history might repeat itself with Sinner taking another win against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

But Djokovic shifted gears at the right time, showing the same resilience that has defined his career for the past two decades. Sinner created 18 break point opportunities across the match, but Djokovic saved an astonishing 16 of them. In the deciding fifth set alone, Sinner generated eight break points across two service games, yet Djokovic survived each time with focus and aggression.

Even though Sinner won more points in the final set and finished with far superior numbers in winners and aces, Djokovic’s solid play and experience allowed him to take important moments. This win wasn’t just about reaching the Australian Open final. It was a statement. Djokovic proved that even at 38, he could compete with the very best. “For me, it’s not a surprise. I know what I’m capable of,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sinner hailed Djokovic as the greatest of all time, saying, “He’s won 24 Grand Slams. We know each other very well, how we play. I’m not surprised because I feel like he’s been the greatest player for many, many years. Of course, he’s playing less tournaments because of his age and everything, but we also know how important Grand Slams are for me, for him, for Carlos [Alcaraz], and everyone. There is this small, extra motivation, and he played great tennis.”

All class from @janniksin👏#AO26 pic.twitter.com/iHhzBs8Wvl

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2026

Djokovic’s mindset against the best

Djokovic also highlighted his approach against Sinner and Alcaraz after the match ended. When asked about the comment he had made about the duo being “too good” and “difficult to beat” after he had lost to Alcaraz at the 2025 US Open, Djokovic jokingly said, “I wasn’t wrong – I said it would be very difficult, not impossible.”

This shows Djokovic never treated the challenge as hopeless and always believed victory against them was achievable. That mindset allowed him to stay calm under pressure and take the win in the gruelling semifinal against Sinner. On Sunday, Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the final, a 22-year-old chasing his seventh Grand Slam.

Djokovic will have the chance to rewrite the history books as he looks to beat Alcaraz and win his record 25th Grand Slam title. If he succeeds, it will further cement the Serb’s status as the greatest men’s tennis player of all time.

But the question on everyone’s mind right now is – can Djokovic do it again? From what history tells us, yes, he can.