Clear lead for Carlos Alcaraz now in the third set! He holds serve to make it 4-2. Novak Djokovic must break now to keep the set alive. Alcaraz, however, is gaining momentum, and has been the better player over the last hour.

Big moment! Carlos Alcaraz BREAKS Novak Djokovic in the third set! The World No. 1 from Spain has been getting better and better with his returns as the match has worn on. Djokovic has it all to do to rescue the third set now. 3-2 in favour of Alcaraz.

Terrific tennis! Novak Djokovic somehow runs from one end to the other and makes an incredible return despite being off balance. But incredibly, Alcaraz is able to react just on time, leaving Djokovic with no chance. The crowd applaud both competitors! Even Rafael Nadal applauds!

Both Djokovic and Alcaraz hold serve, and the third set is now even at 2-2.

Carlos Alcaraz starts off strong with his service in the third set. Not much room for Djokovic to get a point, and Alcaraz holds to make it 1-1. A decisive set in front of us here.

First game of the third set, and we have deuce! Djokovic took the lead but Alcaraz bounced back to level it to deuce. However, the Serb makes an excellent serve to take advantage. And he takes the game! 1-0 to Djokovic.

The third set is underway here at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Djokovic will be hoping to find his groove again. He had headed straight for a break after losing the previous set. The Serb serves first in the third set.

The World No. 1 is well and truly back in the final! Carlos Alcaraz takes the second set 6-2. Novak Djokovic has a fight on his hands here, despite dominating the first set. This match is poised now at one set each!

Second BREAK for Alcaraz! The World No. 1 has shown his class in the second set, and he is on the verge of clinching it now. He has a 5-2 lead. Alcaraz really impressing with his returns and forcing Djokovic into unforced errors too.

Novak Djokovic holds serve and wins his second game of the second set. Important one to win for Djokovic, as it keeps him within touching distance of Alcaraz. The Serb is still just a single break away from pulling things level in the second set.

Novak Djokovic threatened a break there but Carlos Alcaraz is really getting into his groove now. He gets advantage and holds serve to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. Djokovic must break now in this set.

Alcaraz's first big moment of the final! Djokovic slips up for the first time on his serve today, and Alcaraz breaks early in the second set. Crucial break for the World No. 1, whose fistpump celebration says it all. 2-1!

Carlos Alcaraz gets really fortunate with a point in the third game. Wasn't the best of shots from the Spaniard but it takes a decisive deflection off the net and wins him the point before Djokovic could reach. Alcaraz raises his hand as a sort-of apology to Djokovic. 

Carlos Alcaraz starting the second set much better than he did the first. He closes out his first service game of the set without letting Djokovic get a single point. 1-1 in the second set.

Novak Djokovic survives an early scare on his serve at the start of the second set. Alcaraz strong off the blocks and had a break point, but Djokovic bounces back to pull it to deuce and close out the game. He leads 1-0 in the second set.

Dominant! Incredible tennis from Novak Djokovic. He breaks Carlos Alcaraz for the second time to take the first set 6-2. Two absolutely sensational forehand from the Serb returns making the difference for the final two points of that set. 

Can the World No. 1 bounce back?

Novak Djokovic closes out another service game with not much threat from Alcaraz. He now leads 5-2 in the first set. If he breaks Alcaraz's serve next, then he will win the first set!

Alcaraz is made to sweat by Djokovic to hold serve once again, but the Spaniard plays a couple of excellent shots to close out the sixth game of the first set. The gap has been closed down to 4-2, but Djokovic still has a healthy lead.

Djokovic BREAKS! The first big moment of the Australian Open 2026 final, and the Serb has handed the Spaniard an early setback. Alcaraz is able to prevent Djokovic from converting advantage once, but not twice. Slow-ish start from the World No. 1, who must break now. 3-1 lead for Djokovic in the first set.

And Djokovic then holds serve with relative ease. A decisive 4-1 lead in the first set!

For the first time today, we have deuce! Djokovic is taking the fight to Alcaraz, and took the lead at 30-40. However, Alcaraz prevents the break point and pulls it back to deuce. Early chance for a break for the Serb.

Novak Djokovic has made a really sharp start to this final. The Serb is serving well and moving around the court swiftly. He holds serve again and takes the third game of the first set without conceding a point. 2-1.

Carlos Alcaraz is off the mark in the Australian Open final. The Spaniard holds serve at the first time of asking, allowing Djokovic just one point. However, the Serb did hit an excellent forehand return to get that point. Certainly a better start to the final from Djokovic, compared to how he'd started against Jannik Sinner in the semi.

1-1 in the first set.

We are LIVE! Novak Djokovic serves to get us underway, and he gets the first point as Carlos Alcaraz fires wide on the return. And he continues the momentum to race into a 40-0 lead! And he takes the first game! 

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz walk out into the Rod Laver Arena, to huge a ovation from the crowd. World No. 4 Djokovic, who has won 10 out of 10 finals in Melbourne, up against World No. 1 Alcaraz, playing in his first. The world awaits.

Alcaraz has won the toss, and he wants to receive!

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are now doing their final warmups inside. We are about to get underway at the Rod Laver Arena shortly. Djokovic doing some stretches and warmups, while Alcaraz was seen doing some jogging with headphones on.

In the match against Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz had to take medical time out due to what appeared to be groin injury. He later said that it was his right adductor. “So I didn't know exactly what it was because I just go around to a forehand and then I started to feel it just in the right adductor," he said after the semi-final. It isn't yet known if the Spaniard has fully recovered from the injury. 

Novak Djokovic has his task cut out today. Alcaraz, at present, holds an extraordinary stat. He has never lost a Grand Slam final. If he wins today, he will move to 7-0 in major finals.

This would extend his record for the most Grand Slam finals played without a single loss in the Open Era. But, against him stands the man to have won most majors in the men's category. 

We are less than 30 minutes away from the start of the Australian Open 2026 men's singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Two men chasing history in two very different ways. Arguably the face in tennis of their respective generations, the two now collide in a monumental clash.

A victory against Novak Djokovic would be the ultimate coronation for the 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. By winning the Australian Open, he would complete the set of all four major titles (Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, and Australian Open). He would also become the youngest to do so, beating the record of his compatriot Rafael Nadal, who had done so at the age of 24.

If Novak Djokovic manages to outlast Carlos Alcaraz in the final today, it would be his 11th victory in Melbourne and 25th Major. The overall Grand Slam tally of 25 titles would make him the sole record holder for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the history of tennis (men or women). At present, he is tied with Margaret Court on 24 titles. 

The Djokovic vs Alcaraz rivalry has been incredibly tight over the last two seasons, with the momentum swinging based on the surface and the stakes. Here's a look at their last three encounters:

2025 US Open (Semi-final): Alcaraz won 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2

It was Alcaraz's first-ever win against Djokovic on a hard court.

2025 Australian Open (Quarter-final): Djokovic won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4

Djokovic overcame a first-set deficit and a minor thigh injury to win in four.

2024 Paris Olympics (Gold Medal Match): Djokovic won 7-6(3), 7-6(2)

An emotional victory for Djokovic on clay, securing his first ever Olympic Gold.

There isn't a lot separating Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz ahead of the Australian Open 2026 men's singles final. But, the Serbian does have a slight statistical edge but when it comes to Grand Slams, the Spaniard leads. 

Djokovic currently holds a narrow lead in their professional rivalry.

Overall H2H: Djokovic leads 5–4

Grand Slam H2H: Alcaraz leads 3–2

Finals H2H: Tied 2–2

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Open 2026 men's singles final at Melbourne Court. 16 years of age gap separates Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz but there's no way to pick a favourite as the two stalwarts of the game square off in Melbourne. Both await coronation through different sets of milestones in the 'Battle of Generations'.