Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details

Novak Djokovic holds a 5-4 slim lead over Carlos Alcaraz in their head-to-head record on tour.

Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Tour)

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History will be on the line when Carlos Alcaraz faces Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open. Alcaraz is seeking to become the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam, while Djokovic is aiming to win his 25th major title, a feat that will arguably end the debate of whether he’s the greatest player to ever grace the tennis court.

Djokovic has silenced his doubters at the Australian Open. Before the tournament, several former players had doubted whether he would win another Grand Slam with Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominating the men’s circuit. But on Friday (January 30), he put those doubts to bed after a resilience display at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic: Match Details

  • Venue: Rod Laver Arena
  • Time: TBD
  • Round: Finals
  • Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
  • Date: February 1, 2026
  • Tournament: Australian Open 2026
  • Match: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic: Match Preview

Carlos Alcaraz has been in great form since April 2025. He has failed to reach a tournament final once since then, while winning seven titles in the process. He continued with the form at the Australian Open, overcoming Australia’s Adam Walton in straight sets in the first round. He then went on to beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 and Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in the second and third rounds.

He thrashed Tommy Paul in the round of 16 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5. On Tuesday (January 27), he defeated home favorite Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals. He faced a very clinical Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, but overcame the German star 6-4, 7-6(5), 6(3)-7, 6(4)-7, 7-5 to reach the Melbourne Grand Slam final.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic was supposed to kick off his 2026 season at the Adelaide International, but he decided to withdraw from the tournament as he was not 100 percent ready. But that gave him time to get to his best physical level before arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open. He defeated Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.

The 38-year-old then went on to defeat Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4). Jakub Mensik then withdrew from their fourth-round clash due to an abdominal injury, giving Djokovic a walkover to the quarter-finals. In the last eight matches, he was down 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 before Lorenzo Musetti decided to retire due to an injury. The Serbian legend faced Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and stunned the Italian star 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final.

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic: Match Prediction

The Australian Open final will mark the 10th meeting between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. It will also be their first meeting in almost five months, since their last clash in the semi-finals of the US Open, which Alcaraz won. However, Djokovic holds a slim 5-4 lead over Alcaraz in their head-to-head record and holds a 3-1 edge over the Spaniard on hard courts.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (via Australian Open)

Nonetheless, Alcaraz holds a slender 3-2 lead over Djokovic in their head-to-head record in Grand Slam tournaments. Alcaraz defeated Djokovic twice in the Wimbledon final. And this will be the third Grand Slam final between the duo and the first at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Nevertheless, the two played only twice in 2025.

Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in four sets in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, but the latter earned his revenge in the semi-finals of the US Open. Both players are on course to make history at the Australian, but when Djokovic won his first Slam at Melbourne Park in 2008 after defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets, Alcaraz was still waiting to celebrate his fifth birthday.

Match Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz to win in five sets

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic: Live Stream Details

  • India – SONY
  • USA – ESPN, Tennis Channel
  • UK – TNT Sports
  • Canada – TSN, RDS
  • Australia – Nine, Stan. Sports
  • New Zealand– SKY

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Outlines his Plans to Recover for the Australian Open Final Against Carlos Alcaraz