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The stage is set for a blockbuster men’s semifinal at the 2026 Australian Open, where Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will clash at Melbourne Park with a place in the final on the line.
While anticipation around the matchup continues to build, an Italian tennis great has offered a clear prediction on how the contest could unfold.
Sinner enters as favorite in Melbourne showdown
Sinner arrives at the semifinal in formidable form. The 24-year-old Italian has not dropped a set so far in the tournament and remains unbeaten in Melbourne since 2023, putting him on course to reach a third consecutive Australian Open final. His consistency and physical edge have positioned him as one of the standout performers of this year’s event.
Across the net stands Djokovic, the most decorated player in Australian Open history, who is chasing another deep run at a venue where he has dominated for more than a decade.
The Serbian great is aiming to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam title, adding further significance to his semifinal appearance.
Panatta weighs in on Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic
During a conversation with Paolo Bertolucci, Italian legend Adriano Panatta shared his assessment of the men’s semifinals, starting with the Sinner-Djokovic encounter.
“Sinner is clearly favored in the second semifinal, because he represents an evolution of Djokovic. He has a game quite similar to that of the Serbian champion, but he is younger and shoots harder. Nole looked old to me during the match against Musetti and I don't think he has much chance against Jannik.”
Panatta’s comments highlight the growing perception that Sinner’s aggressive baseline play and physical freshness could be decisive against the 38-year-old Djokovic.
Djokovic’s path raises questions
Djokovic’s route to the semifinals has not been without concerns. He was pushed to the brink in the quarterfinals by Lorenzo Musetti and narrowly avoided elimination after the Italian was forced to retire early in the third set due to injury. The match exposed moments of vulnerability that Sinner could look to exploit.
The Italian also had his own scare earlier in the tournament, nearly exiting in the third round against Eliot Spizzirri due to cramps, but he has since regained full control of his campaign.
A defining semifinal awaits
With form, fitness, and recent head-to-head trends all favoring Sinner, the pressure will be firmly on Djokovic to produce something special.
As Melbourne prepares for another night session classic, Panatta’s verdict adds further intrigue to what could be a defining match of the 2026 Australian Open.
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