MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — In a moment of exhaustion and elation, Novak Djokovic recognized Margaret Court in the crowd and thanked her for staying up so late to watch him get within a single victory of becoming the most decorated tennis player of all time.
The 83-year-old Court was among the VIPs at Rod Laver Arena for Djokovic's epic five-set win over two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in a grueling semifinal that ended after 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
For now, they share the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles. That could change Sunday.
Djokovic's energy-sapping win over Sinner set up a championship decider against top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard bidding to become the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam.
Alcaraz and Sinner have combined to block Djokovic's push for a 25th major title, splitting the last eight majors evenly between them.
In his on-court interview to cap Day 13, Djokovic thanked Court for hanging around to witness him end a streak of five losses to Sinner, and also snap a run of four semifinal defeats at the Grand Slam tournaments.
“Some legends stayed up to 2 a.m.!” he said. “Thank-you so much for being here.”
Djokovic owns just about every record there is available to him, surpassing the marks set down by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has one more than Serena Williams, who holds the women's Open era record at 23.
He's made no secret of the fact he's only in Australia for the coveted 25th.
Some analysts debate the greatness of Court's career tally because she won 13 of her 24 major singles titles before the professional Open era began in 1968.
Not Djokovic. For him, the numbers speak volumes.
After beating one half of the “Sincaraz” rivalry, Djokovic gets a shot at another in the 11th final of his career at Melbourne Park. He has won all 10 previously.
The 38-year-old Djokovic said he was sore and tired and likely wouldn't do much practice Saturday, prioritizing recovery.
Alcaraz also said he'll be focussing on recovery after struggling with cramps and a sore right leg in a five-set, 5-hour and 27-minute win over Alexander Zverev. It was the longest semifinal ever at the Australian Open.
It wasn't the longest match ever at Melbourne Park — not surprisingly, Djokovic holds that record with his 5:53 win over Rafael Nadal in the 2012 final.
Djokovic crossed paths with Alcaraz between the five-set semifinals and commended him on pushing through. Alcaraz was on an exercise bike warming down and Djokovic was still preparing for his delayed start to the night.
When he was setting goals for this seaon, Djokovic said he'd asked himself: "Okay, what is it that I’m looking for from myself?”
“I was imagining really playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of Grand Slams and battling it out,” he said. “Very fortunate to already get it in the first Slam of the year.”
Djokovic conceded he was lucky to reach the semifinals, after getting a walkover in the fourth round before Lorenzo Musetti retired during their quarterfinal after taking the first two sets.
Against Sinner, there were times when Djokovic looked down and almost out of gas, but his resilience was phenomenal. Sinner wasn't able to convert eight breakpoint chances in the fifth set —- he was only 2 of 18 in the match — and Djokovic converted the first breakpoint chance he had in the deciding set.
Alcaraz also was wobbly in the third set, taking a medical timeout for what he thought was an injured adductor in his right leg. Turns out, it was more likely cramps. It will be his first final in Australia.
“I just got to do whatever it takes to be as good as I can for the final,” Alcaraz said.
Djokovic hasn't won a major since the 2023 U.S. Open but, while others may have written off his chances, he never doubted he could rise to that level.
“There’s a lot of people that doubted me ... a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me," he said. "I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong."
Djokovic is aiming to become the oldest man in the Open era to win a major title. Alcaraz is aiming to be the youngest ever to win titles at all four Grand Slams.
“There’s always for me, also for Carlos — because of his age and everything he’s achieved — history is on the line,” Djokovic said.
Nadal, who will be at the final, was asked Saturday to pick a preferred champion.
“I feel I have to support Carlos," Nadal said of his fellow Spaniard. But “If Novak wins, I will be happy for him. It is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career."
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Jannik Sinner of Italy in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s royal family is facing a fresh round of embarrassment after the latest release of documents from the U.S. investigation into Jeffrey Epstein revealed unsavory details about the relationship between the convicted sex offender and a correspondent who appears to be the man formerly known as Prince Andrew.
Emails released by the U.S. Justice Department include an invitation for Epstein to dine at Buckingham Palace, Epstein’s offer to introduce his correspondent to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and photos that appear to show Andrew kneeling over an unidentified person who is lying on the floor.
The revelations come three months after King Charles III stripped Andrew of his royal titles, including the right to be called a prince, as he tried to insulate the monarchy from a steady stream of stories about his younger brother’s relationship with Epstein that has tarnished the royal family for more than a decade. The former prince is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
As a result of that move, the damage from the latest emails is likely to be limited to Mountbatten-Windsor, said Craig Prescott, an expert on constitutional law and the monarchy at Royal Holloway, University of London.
The documents show that “they had to do something to separate Andrew from the rest of the family, and the nuclear option was the clearest way of doing it,” Prescott said. “And as more comes out, then you do feel that they have been justified.”
The documents raise serious questions about Andrew’s judgment, while offering a rare look at how some of the world’s super elite behave behind closed doors, Prescott said.
“It’s sort of the things they do behind some of the most gilded doors in New York or London or wherever,” he said. “It’s the sort of things that on some occasions seem to be going on. And I think most people just think, wow, that’s all very extraordinary.’’
Mountbatten-Windsor has been dogged by his relationship with Epstein ever since 2008, when the wealthy financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. In 2011, the late Virginia Giuffre alleged that she had been trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17.
He tried to stifle the controversy in a 2019 interview with the BBC, but the appearance only fueled the scandal when he was criticized for offering unbelievable explanations of his behavior and failing to show empathy for Epstein’s victims.
The former prince has repeatedly denied committing any crimes and has rejected Giuffre’s allegations. An email seeking comment on the latest document release was not answered. The presence of anyone’s name or images in the investigative files isn’t proof of wrongdoing.
The emails released on Friday include an August 2010 exchange between Epstein and an account labeled “The Duke” that occurred soon after the financier was released from home detention following his earlier conviction. Before he was barred from using the title, Mountbatten-Windsor was the Duke of York.
“I have a friend who I think you might enjoy having dinner with,” Epstein writes.
“The Duke” replies: “Of course. I am in Geneva until the morning of 22nd but would be delighted to see her. Will she be bringing a message from you? Please give her my contact details to get in touch.”
The email is signed “A.”
In response to a redacted email, “The Duke” then writes, “Great. Any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know? Like what have you told her about me and have you given her my email as well?”
Epstein, whose emails often contain typographical errors, responds: “She 26, russian, clevere beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email.”
“That was quick!” The Duke replies. “How are you? Good to be free?”
“Great to be free of many things,” Epstein says.
The exchange elicited shock from former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who pointed out that it would be highly unusual for a royal to meet with someone they knew so little about.
“I mean, what was he thinking?” Bond told the BBC. “What was he thinking when Epstein offered him a 26-year-old Russian very beautiful lady to have dinner with? I mean, was there no red light saying, ’Oh my goodness, you know, is this a security risk? Could she be a spy? Should I do this?’ Nah. He says, 'That would be absolutely lovely.’’’
In another exchange in September 2010, Epstein said he was in London.
“I am just departing Scotland should be down by 1800,” “The Duke” replied in an email signed with the initial A. “I’ll ring you when I get down if you can give me a number to ring.
“Alternatively we could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy.”
“bp please,” Epstein responds.
Also included in the release are three photographs that show someone who looks like Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over an unidentified person whose face is redacted.
In one photo the man, wearing blue jeans and a polo shirt, looks into the camera. In the others he appears to be talking to the unidentified person with his hand on their abdomen. There is no caption and no indication of when or where the photos were taken.
As unseemly as the revelations are, there isn’t much else the palace can do to sanction him, Prescott said.
“In terms of Andrew’s reputation, that has totally gone,” he said.
EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Images from an undated and redacted document released by the U.S. Department of Justice, photographed Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaning over an unidentified person. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
FILE - Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, looks round as he leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
