AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 31, 2026

Novak Djokovic

Flash Quotes

N. DJOKOVIC/J. Sinner

3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Q. Congratulations. John McEnroe said on the coverage afterwards you could make an argument that this was your finest-ever performance. That's a pretty big goal for someone that's won 24 slams. I'm wondering, with everything you've been through over the years, where this win sits?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: To be honest, I wouldn't dare to call it ever, finest ever, but definitely the finest in the last couple of years. Under the circumstances and semis against, you know, Sinner, who has been playing best tennis of his life in last couple of years, particularly here, two-time defending champion, doesn't get better than this.

Honestly, when I started my preparations for the new season and kind of set the goals, you know, it's no secret that Grand Slams are where I want to play my best tennis, but it becomes, I guess, more difficult for me to motivate myself, and I ask myself questions. You know, okay, what is it that I'm looking for from myself? I was imaging really playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of Grand Slams this year and battling it out and really giving it all that I have.

So very fortunate to already get it in the first slam of the year (smiling). So, yeah, big win. Very proud. Very happy. Very relieved, as well, because it was physically very demanding and grueling.

Q. You referenced on court the great final from 2012 against Rafa --

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah.

Q. -- in terms of the quality of the tennis. You didn't have to play another match after that. You have to play two days from now. How do you go about preparing now?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. Let's see. You know, it's almost 3 a.m. Yeah, let's see. I cannot make any predictions right now.

Definitely not going to train tomorrow. Just going to use every hour I possibly can to recover, and hopefully get out on the finals day feeling somewhat refreshed.

Q. Novak, well done. You were obviously pretty upset about your level the other day, two days ago. How do you explain playing at that level two days ago and then playing as you did tonight, which is about hitting the forehand the way you did, serving. I think you were, like, 80% in the four sets. How do you get from there to here?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself, you know. There's a lot of people that doubt me. I see there is a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me or have retired me many times the last couple of years.

You know, I want to thank them all, because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong, which I have tonight. For me, it's not a surprise, to be honest.

I know what I'm capable of. So I've had many, many times in my career matches during the Grand Slam where it's just one of those days where you're not feeling your best. You try to find a way to win with everything that you possibly have, even though the quality of tennis is not even close to where you want it to be.

So that was the case, you know? Again, I was lucky that obviously Lorenzo got hurt and retired that match. Two days later, obviously different opponent. I knew exactly what's expecting me on the court, and I came out with the right, great clarity and strategy and game plan and what needs to be executed.

Obviously easier said than done. You know, one thing is to imagine how you want to play, and the other thing is to deliver it and execute it on the court against Sinner, that we all know is playing an extremely high level.

Yeah, I mean, I'm just thrilled to be able to experience something like this tonight.

Q. Where do you rate this performance?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think I answered that at the beginning. I rate it as the best of the last couple of years. For sure, one of the best performances in the last decade or so.

Q. The significance of Sunday's final, you're trying to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in Australia, and Carlos is trying to become the youngest man to... How do you assess that in terms of important matches?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: For me, I think also obviously for Carlos because of his age and everything that he was able to achieve so far, history is on the line for both of us every time we play. The finals of Grand Slam, you know, there's a lot at stake, but it's no different from, you know, any other big match that I play.

My preparation is as it should be, and I won against him last year here, you know, also in a grueling match. Let's see. Let's see how fresh are we both able to be.

He also had a big match, but he has 15, 16 years on me. You know, biologically I think it's going to be a bit easier for him to recover.

But, yeah, I look forward to it. Look, I play tennis competitively mainly to be able to reach the finals of Grand Slams. Here I am, so I cannot complain about anything. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment that I'm experiencing tonight. I'll think about finals later, but for me, this is win that almost equals winning a Grand Slam.