Djokovic vs Alcaraz – Australian Open final: Start time, head-to-head

Djokovic vs Alcaraz – Australian Open final: Start time, head-to-headThe veteran icon faces the young champion as their inter-generational tennis rivalry sets up a blockbuster showdown.Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will chase tennis records when they meet in the men's singles final of the Australian Open 2026 in Melbourne [AFP]Published On 31 Jan 2026Who: Carlos Alcaraz vs Novak Djokovic What: Men’s singles final – Australian Open 2026 When: Sunday, February 1 at 19:30 (08:30 GMT) Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text and photo stream gets under way at 05:30 GMTNovak Djokovic stands one step away from cementing his place as the greatest tennis player of all time. In his way, though, is Carlos Alcaraz – a modern adversary seeking a career milestone of his own.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Yin-yang of tennis: ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry back in focus before Australian Openlist 2 of 4Naomi Osaka’s outfit, entrance and win headline Australian Open day threelist 3 of 4Australian Open 2026: All to know about the first tennis Grand Slamlist 4 of 4Turkiye’s Sonmez wins hearts by aiding ball girl during Australian Open winend of listTennis history will be rewritten when the pair meet in the men’s singles final of the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday.Djokovic is seeking his 25th major title to go past Margaret Court in the all-time Grand Slam winners’ list in the Open Era, while Alcaraz – 16 years his junior – is looking to become the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning the only one eluding his trophy cabinet.At 38 years old, the Serb is already the oldest man to have qualified for a Grand Slam final, but he will be looking to make the most of his appearance in Sunday’s blockbuster final to seal a record-extending 25th men’s title.Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who was the last man to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2024, will aim to convert his debut final at the Australian Open into a night when he seals a career Slam.Both men enter the match on the back of epic semifinal wins on Rod Laver Arena on Friday, with top seed and world number one Alcaraz having a slightly longer recovery period than fourth-seeded Djokovic.What’s the Alcaraz-Djokovic tennis rivalry?In the five years since his first appearance in the main round of a Grand Slam, Alcaraz has swiftly become the face of men’s tennis, and his brief history with the iconic Djokovic is often seen as a passing-of-the-baton inter-generational rivalry.Alcaraz is known for his speed and power, while Djokovic relies on his experience, consistency and resilience to fend off the next generation of tennis talents.The young Spaniard’s first meeting against Djokovic came at the Madrid Open in 2022, where the home favourite beat the veteran in straight sets.Since then, the pair have met in Grand Slam settings on five occasions, with Alcaraz winning both finals but Djokovic emerging victorious at the Olympics to complete his Career Super Slam.Overall, the Serb edges his rival by five wins to four in their nine meetings.Alcaraz vs Djokovic: Head-to-headCareer win-loss record Djokovic: 1163/233 Alcaraz: 280/65 Career titles: Djokovic: 101 Alcaraz: 24 Career prize money: Djokovic: $191.2m Alcaraz: $60m Year turned pro: Djokovic: 2003 Alcaraz: 2018 Alcaraz at Grand SlamsTitles: 6French Open: 2024, 2025Wimbledon: 2023, 2024US Open: 2022, 2025Djokovic at Grand SlamsTitles: 24Australian Open: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023French Open: 2016, 2021, 2023Wimbledon: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022US Open: 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023Who won the last Alcaraz-Djokovic match?Their last encounter was in the semifinals of the US Open 2025, where eventual champion Alcaraz was too strong for the four-time winner Djokovic.The match ended 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in Alcaraz’s favour.How did Alcaraz reach the Australian Open 2026 final?An ailing Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic to reach his first Australian Open final in a match lasting five hours and 27 minutes. The world number one outlasted the German third seed in hot conditions with a cramping body.Road to the final: First round: Beat Adam Walton 6-3, 7-6(7-2), 6-2 Second round: Beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 6-2 Third round: Beat Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 Fourth round: Beat Tommy Paul 7-6(7-6), 6-4, 7-5 Quarterfinal: Beat Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 Semifinal: Beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 How did Djokovic reach the Australian Open 2026 final?Djokovic stunned reigning champion Jannik Sinner early on Saturday, with the veteran turning back the clock to upset the Italian in a gruelling four-hour-nine-minute match.Tennis experts, fans and former champions have been weighing in on what promises to be a modern epic.Rafael Nadal: “I think the favourite is Carlos. He’s young, he has the energy and he’s in his prime. But I mean, Novak is Novak. He’s a very special player. I think it’s a positive example of commitment, of resilience. Novak, for obvious reasons, is not at his prime, but he is still very, very competitive at an age that is difficult to be very competitive. So full respect.”The men’s singles champion and runner-up will receive $2.9m and $1.5m, respectively, from the total tournament prize money of $78.1m.Al Jazeera’s build-up to the final will begin at 05:30 GMT, before the live score, photo and text commentary stream from 08:30 GMT.