Djokovic's upset over Sinner brings a historic moment to the Australian Open, as Zhang Shuai aims for the championship today.

Is Djokovic past his prime? When the Serbian ace won a five-set thriller against Sinner to advance to the Australian Open final, many used the saying "An old Ferrari is still a Ferrari" to praise the 38-year-old's outstanding performance, which was truly incredible.

Before this key match started, betting agencies had Djokovic ranked lowest among contenders for the Australian Open men's singles crown, indicating he was not favored at all.

Some fans and netizens even believed Djokovic was likely to be swept by Sinner. Besides the Serbian star suffering five consecutive losses to Sinner, his poor quarterfinal showing against Musetti also contributed to this view.

Therefore, they boldly predicted that since Djokovic barely survived against Musetti, facing the new king of hard courts would be nearly impossible for him. They thought he should accept aging, as competitive sports ultimately belong to the younger generation.

Especially after Djokovic was thoroughly dominated in the first set by Sinner, losing 6-3, many felt the Italian's straight-sets victory was very likely, increasing sympathy for the 38-year-old giant.

Even when Djokovic took the second set 6-4, many saw it as just a formality to support sponsors and the tournament, expecting the match to last at most four sets. No matter how hard the Serbian star fought, defeat seemed inevitable.

At that time, many were certain Djokovic would lose, believing his stamina at 38 would only last for three sets, maybe four at best, and the idea of a five-set battle was unthinkable.

It was only after Djokovic played four full sets against Sinner, showing no signs of serious fatigue, that some of the earlier doubters began to change their minds about the Serbian star.

When the decisive final set started and Djokovic broke the deadlock first, taking control of the match, people finally dared to believe that this time the Serbian star might really win, avenging Sinner and returning to the Australian Open final after two years.

In the end, Djokovic did not disappoint his supporters, securing the match victory 6-4 in the final set with a crucial break advantage.

At the moment of victory, Djokovic immediately knelt on the court, expressing his overwhelming emotion over this hard-fought win. Many fans and netizens emphasized that while the veteran father held back tears, they themselves were already crying uncontrollably, amazed that the 38-year-old could endure a five-set Grand Slam match and still emerge victorious, especially against the in-form Sinner.

Although Djokovic’s win over Sinner spoiled the much-anticipated "Sinner-Djokovic showdown," it brought a truly historic moment to the Australian Open men's singles stage.

If Alcaraz wins, the Spaniard will not only set a new personal best at the Australian Open but also become the youngest ever to complete a career Grand Slam; if Djokovic triumphs, another supreme tennis record will be set: the Serbian star will claim his 25th Grand Slam title, surpassing Sampras to become the all-time leader, firmly cementing his status as the greatest and ending any debate over who holds the most Grand Slam titles.

Based on current public opinion and Djokovic’s performance against Sinner, many believe that as long as he maintains this level, he truly has a chance to lift his 25th Grand Slam trophy when facing Alcaraz.

After Alcaraz battled for 5 hours and 27 minutes to defeat Zverev, he admitted feeling pressured by the goal of achieving a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open. This has made Djokovic’s supporters even more hopeful that the Serbian star has a great opportunity and eagerly anticipate witnessing another career-defining moment for the 38-year-old giant.

While awaiting Djokovic’s great moment, Chinese star Zhang Shuai will take the court today, aiming to fulfill another expectation: winning her second Australian Open doubles title and her third Grand Slam doubles championship overall.

If Zhang Shuai can secure this title, she will rise from the current second-ranked domestic doubles player to first place, tying the record of three Grand Slam doubles titles held by Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai, making the three of them jointly the top domestic Grand Slam doubles champions.

“Thank you all for cheering us on and supporting us. We will keep working hard,” Zhang Shuai said about chasing the Australian Open doubles title with partner Mertens, promising to give her best and hoping for the best possible outcome.

Some netizens commented that witnessing Zhang Shuai’s shining moment first, followed by Djokovic’s potential triumph at the Australian Open, would make all these years of following tennis truly worthwhile.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)