Djokovic falls short of a 25th major title as Alcaraz triumphs in Australia. It's still his mission

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — As only true champions do, Novak Djokovic assessed a tournament where he got within two sets of achieving a record 25th Grand Slam title as something to work on.

In an Australian Open final where both men were chasing history, 22-year-old Carlos Alcaraz came back to beat Djokovic in four sets on Sunday night.

“You’re speaking to me 10 minutes after I lost the final, so of course I’m going to be a little bit bitter about losing,” Djokovic said in his official post-final news conference. “But, again, I lost to a No. 1 in the world and already a legendary player.”

It was the first time Djokovic has ever lost a final at Melbourne Park, where he's won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam singles titles. That's already a record in men's tennis and in the Open era. It's something he's still determined to improve on.

He ended a sequence of four semifinal losses at the Slams with a semifinal win over two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, one of the two men who've been blocking his path to that 25th championship for two years.

He took a set off the other one — Alcaraz — but couldn't complete the job, not quite recovering from the epic semifinal that didn't finish until after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.

“I knew that I’d probably have to beat two of them on the way to the title,” Djokovic said. “I beat one, which is great, so it’s a step more further than I have gone in Grand Slams than last year. Very nice, encouraging.

“But, you know, not enough for me. I’m going to keep pushing and see if I get another chance.”

The 38-year-old Djokovic said he'd lowered his expectations when he openly conceded that Alcaraz and Sinner were playing on a higher level than anyone else in tennis, and it took some pressure off. But he hasn't lost faith he can still beat anyone on his day.

A few breaks helped Djokovic on his way to a 38th Grand Slam final, including a walkover in the fourth round and a lucky reprieve when he was down two sets in the quarterfinals before Lorenzo Musetti retired in the third set because of injury.

That primed him up for the five-setter against Sinner, and meant he'd been on court for four hours fewer than Alcaraz ahead of the final.

But a 16-year age gap is huge when there's less than 48 hours between massive showdowns.

“It’s great that I was able to beat Jannik in five and really battle Carlos in four close sets,” he said. “Yeah, I remain disappointed with the way I felt in second and third after an incredible start, and I felt great about myself and then, yeah, things changed.

“But of course, when you draw a line and you make assessment of what happened last couple of weeks, it’s incredible achievement for me to be able to play finals, be couple of sets away maybe to win a championship.”

Alcaraz said it was like a master class every time he faced Djokovic, and “Every time that I’m able to feel that aura from him on the other side of the net, for me it’s a privilege.”

It was also inspiring, he said, the way Djokovic defied the critics who said he was too old to break up the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly or reach another major final.

“It's unbelievable what he’s doing,” Alcaraz said. “If he maintains this level of tennis during the whole season, he’s going to, you know, win great things.

“It depends how physically he is or how demanding physically is the tournament for him, but I think he’s ready to keep winning the big tournaments.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, left, and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embrace after Alcaraz won the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Carlos Alcaraz, right, of Spain is congratulated by Novak Djokovic, left, of Serbia after winning the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves during his speech following his loss to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia watches Carlos Alcaraz of Spain give his victory speech after winning the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan handed Australia its biggest-ever defeat in a Twenty20 just five days ahead of the T20 World Cup to sweep the series 3-0 on Sunday.

Pakistan’s commanding 111-run win in the third and final game eclipsed Australia’s previous biggest defeat when England registered a 100-run win at Southampton in 2005.

Australia, one of the title-contenders at the T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, continued to struggle against spinners as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz grabbed a career-best 5-18 and the visitors were bowled out for 96 in 16.5 overs.

Pakistan, which won its third successive toss in the series, had earlier posted a daunting 207-6 – its highest-ever total in a T20 against Australia.

“From the last two days, we have been excellent in all departments, I can’t find any mistakes,” said Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. “We dominated them. I am in a great frame of mind right now. I know how to handle the captaincy when I go out to bat and I really want to do that in the World Cup as well.”

Opener Saim Ayub made 56 off 57 balls and Babar Azam, who had been under scrutiny for his strike rate in T20s, struck an unbeaten 50 off 36 balls. However, it was a blazing 46 off 19 balls by Shadab Khan, which included five sixes, that set Pakistan for a strong total.

Nawaz cashed in on the slow wicket and flummoxed Australia’s experienced batters after Shaheen Shah Afridi had clean bowled captain Mitchell Marsh (1) and Matt Renshaw (1) in his first two overs.

Marcus Stoinis, playing his first match of the series, top-scored with 23 while Cameron Green scored 22 before both were undone by Nawaz and were clean-bowled. Nawaz completed his five-wicket haul in his final over when Josh Philippe top-edged a slog sweep to mid-wicket and Khawaja Nafay had Cooper Connolly stumped.

Earlier, left-hander Ayub smashed six fours and two sixes, and contributed to a 69-run stand with Babar after captain Salman Ali Agha (5) and Fakhar Zaman (10) got out inside the power play.

Ayub fell to a spectacular diving catch by Renshaw at deep mid-wicket before Khawaja Nafay, selected as backup wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup, made a fearless 21 off 12 balls.

Babar had struggled at his new No. 4 batting slot, but anchored the innings well as Shadab smashed sixes and Pakistan scored 70 runs in the last five overs. Babar completed his half-century in the final over as Faheem Ashraf hit two boundaries after Shadab edged Ben Dwarshuis (2-39) in the penultimate over.

Green (1-43) bowled three expensive overs in the second half of the innings as Pakistan scored 200-plus for the first time in a T20 against Australia.

“Pakistan certainly outplayed us throughout the whole series,” said Marsh, who was rested in the first game. “Chasing is hard on that surface… we will take learnings from that. We will certainly address this series and look forward to the World Cup.”

Pakistan won the first match by 19 runs before beating Australia by 90 runs in the second.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's Saim Ayub celebrates after his fifty runs during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Babar Azam follows the ball after playing a shot during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz, center, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Australia's Matt Renshaw during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistani players and official pose for photograph with the trophy after winning the T20 series against Australia on the end of the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)