Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz LIVE: Score, updates, commentary, highlights from Australian Open men’s final

Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz LIVE: Score, updates, commentary, highlights from Australian Open men’s final originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s young versus old in the Australian Open men’s final as world no.1 Carlos Alcaraz meets tennis immortal Novak Djokovic in what promises to be an epic.

Victory for Alcaraz will see him become the youngest career Grand Slam winner in history in an honour that could start his path to legendary status.

Established legend Djokovic is aiming for an 11th Australian Open championship (from 11 finals) and adding a 25th Grand Slam title to his coffers.

The Sporting News is following the Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz match live, providing score updates and commentary as it happens.

MORE: Australian Open men’s final prize money 2026: Winnings breakdown for AO singles, doubles tennis players by round

MORE:Youngest career Grand Slams in tennis: Carlos Alcaraz keen to shatter Don Budge’s 88-year record at Australian Open

Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz live score – Australian Open men’s final

*Denotes server

	Set 1	Set 2	Set 3
[4] Novak Djokovic (SRB)	6	2	1
[1] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)*	2	6	0

Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz updates, highlights and commentary

*Denotes server

Djokovic* 1-0 (6-2 2-6) Alcaraz

0-15: Novak drives into the net. Not a great start.
0-30: Wow. Straight to 0-30. Another unforced error from Djokovic.
15-30: Novak wins the point at the net. Magnificent.
30-30: Unforced error from Novak.
40-30: Forehand error from Alcaraz sets up game point for Djokovic.
40-40: Novak drives into the net and it’s deuce.
Adv ND: Excellent serve from Djokovic. Gets the AD.
Game ND: Novak holds as Carlos misses the forehand.

SECOND SET ALCARAZ – Djokovic 2-6 (6-2) Alcaraz*

0-15: Excellent return by Djokovic, forces the error from Carlos.
15-15: Novak bunts the return long.
30-15: Again an unreturned serve.
40-15: Alcaraz slams a forehand winner. Two set points.
Game, Set CA: Djokovic nets and it’s second set for Carlos.

BREAK ALCARAZ – Djokovic* 2-5 (6-2) Alcaraz

15-0: Alcaraz gets the tame second serve but can’t get it over the net.
15-15: Novak hooks the back hand wide.
15-30: More pressure for Djokovic. As Alcaraz flips one down the line
15-40: Two break points for Alcaraz again.
Break CA: Another break for Alcaraz. Djokovic now off the boil.

Djokovic 2-4 (6-2) Alcaraz*

15-0: Brilliant body second serve from Alcaraz. He eventually creams a forehand winner.
30-0: Unreturned serve.
40-0: Huge ace from Carlos down the middle.
Game CA: Comfortable hold wrapped by the world no.1

Djokovic* 2-3 (6-2) Alcaraz

15-0: Novak brings Alcaraz in, the Spaniard gets there but then Djokovic hits the winner.
30-0: Djokovic serves and volleys on the second serve, makes the drop volley.
40-0: Alcaraz gets a look at a second serve again but smashes it into the net.
40-15: Lucky backhand return winner off the net cord for Alcaraz.
Game ND: Alcaraz drop shot comes up short. Hold.

Djokovic 1-3 (6-2) Alcaraz*

0-15: Djokovic responds with a backhand winner.
15-15: Ace for Alcaraz restores parity in the game.
15-30: Alcaraz tries to volley the ball going long and he misses. Wow.
30-30: Pressure point coming up after Djokovic makes an unforced error.
30-40: Wow. Break back point for Novak as Carlos hits long.
40-40: Saved by Alcaraz – with Novak making another forehand unforced error. It is misfiring at the moment.
Adv CA: Unreturned serve as Novak hits it well long.
Game CA: Alcaraz comes in to pass Djokovic and he can’t get it back. Carlos is lifting.

BREAK ALCARAZ – Djokovic* 1-2 (6-2) Alcaraz

15-0: Another plus one after serve for Novak.
15-15: Novak smashes a forehand long.
15-30: Alcaraz making more inroads on Djokovic’s serve. Gets the lucky net cord.
15-40: You can feel this match turning. Unforced error for Novak. Two break points.
Break CA: Djokovic serve-volleys and his misses the backhand. Here Carlos comes.

Djokovic 1-1 (6-2) Alcaraz*

15-0: Carlos crushes the forehand winner. Can that fire him up? He is so flat.
30-0: Another quick point for Carlos.
40-0: Djokovic just hits the pass long.
Game CA: An ace gets the easy hold. Will that get him going?

Djokovic* 1-0 (6-2) Alcaraz

0-15: Djokovic drills a forehand into the net. Unforced error.
0-30: Another unforced mistake from Novak on the forehand side.
15-30: Novak pulls one point back.
30-30: Long rally. Carlos makes the mistake. Looks so flat.
40-30: Djokovic’s serve forces Alcaraz to return long.
40-40: Another long rally. Alcaraz finally shows something. Takes Novak out of the court.
Adv ND: Novak serve gets the advantage and Alcaraz makes the error eventually.
Game ND: Djokovic uses the drop shot and Alcaraz can’t get it in play. Wow.

BREAK, FIRST SET DJOKOVIC – Djokovic 6-2 Alcaraz*

15-0: Alcaraz starts the game with an ace
15-15: Carlos flips a forehand wide. Still looks off here. Hard to see him breaking back unless a switch is flipped suddenly.
15-30: Long rally. Novak gets it. Too good at the moment.
15-40: Wow. Two more break points as Djokovic hits a winner.
Break, set ND: Incredible. Cleans Alcaraz up with a double break.

Djokovic* 5-2 Alcaraz

15-0: Alcaraz hits the second serve return into the net.
30-0: Forehand battle – Alcaraz nets. Djokovic well on top.
40-0: Drop shot winner for Novak now. Flying.
Game ND: Comfortable hold completed. He is one game away from the first set.

Djokovic 4-2 Alcaraz*

0-15: Alcaraz hooks a forehand wide. He looks off at the moment.
0-30: Now it’s a forehand long. Pressure for Alcaraz again.
15-30: Novak has a go down the line but misses by a long way.
30-30: Excellent serve by Alcaraz gets the impetus and he wins the point. Still a pressure point here.
40-30: Service winner for Carlos. His serve is starting to look in rhythm.
Game CA: Alcaraz drills a forehand winner and he holds from 0-30.

Djokovic* 4-1 Alcaraz

0-15: Great start for Alcaraz. First point back.
15-15: An ace from Djokovic restores parity.
30-15: Novak crushes a backhand winner. He looks imperious at the moment.
40-15: Alcaraz nets.
Game ND: Novak consolidates the break for an unreturned serve.

BREAK DJOKOVIC – Djokovic 3-1 Alcaraz*

0-15: In roads in a service game. Djokovic gets a second serve and forces Alcaraz to make an error.
15-15: Serve-drop shot combo for Carlos.
30-15: Novak gets forced wide, goes for the forehand down the line and just misses.
30-30: Ohhh. A double fault for Alcaraz sets up a pressure point.
30-40: First break point for Djokovic. Alcaraz with the unforced error.
40-40: Saved! Carlos executes the drop shot off the return. Cold as ice.
Adv ND: A second break point for Novak. Djokovic forces the error.
40-40: A forehand winner for Alcaraz saves the break point once again.
Adv ND: Djokovic steps up on Alcaraz’s second serve to create a third break point. Pressure is on.
Break ND: What a start for Novak. Alcaraz hits long.

Djokovic* 2-1 Alcaraz

15-0: Alcaraz makes the unforced error
30-0: Novak steps up to make another forehand winner. Looks on song early.
40-0: Djokovic races to three game points.
Game ND: Clean backhand winner for Novak. Both players have started well.

Djokovic 1-1 Alcaraz*

15-0: Alcaraz sends an ace out wide
30-0: Novak tries to go down the line but nets
40-0: Serve-winner combo for Alcaraz. Races to 40-0
40-15: Cracking forehand down the line for Djokovic
Game CA: Alcaraz executes the smash and secures the easy hold

Djokovic* 1-0 Alcaraz

15-0: Djokovic gains the first point as Alcaraz hits long
30-0: Alcaraz can’t get the return over the net
40-0: Novak drills Alcaraz’s return for a backhand winner
40-15: Alcaraz pulls a point back
Game ND: Solid serving game for Novak. Comfortable hold

Novak Djokovic to serve – Match start

7:40 PM: Players are warming up – we will begin shortly.

7:38 PM: Alcaraz and Djokovic have both entered the court.

7:35 PM: Players are getting their final wishes from their team before entering the court.

7:20 PM: Sophie Ellis-Bextor is performing right now. Players are 10-15 minutes away from entering the court.

7:00 PM: Alcaraz won their last meeting on hard court – in straight sets at the US Open 2025 semi-final stage.

6:55 PM: Alcaraz 3-0 is looking good value at the moment at $2.82 (Betfair) – Novak saved 16 of 18 break points vs. Sinner – the story could have been different.

6:50 PM: Alcaraz is currently $1.36 favourite to win H2H with the bookies, Djokovic is sitting at $3.70 (odds courtesy of Betfair).

6:45 PM: This will be Djokovic’s 11th Australian Open final – he has never lost one before. The true Melbourne Park end boss.

6:40 PM: Alcaraz is bidding to be the youngest calendar Grand Slam winner in tennis history – hoping to shatter an 88-year record set by American legend Don Budge.

6:35 PM: Novak leads the H2H 5-4 – but will Alcaraz square it up by the end of the night?

6:30 PM (local time): Welcome to Rod Laver Arena for tonight’s Australian Open men’s final match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

How to watch the Australian Open: TV channel, free-to-air guide in Australia

The Nine Network is the free-to-air home of the Australian Open in 2026.

All key matches will be broadcast free on TV across the Channel 9 and 9Gem channels.

Broadcast schedules will be determined on a daily basis but matches involving Australians and other notable players will typically receive free-to-air priority.

Channel 9 will serve as the main broadcast channel with 9Gem also providing day-long coverage.

Australian Open live stream: How to watch online in Australia

Aussie fans can stream this year’s Australian Open on subscription service Stan Sport.

In 2026 every match will be streamed live and on demand in 4K, making it the perfect choice for dedicated tennis fans who want uninterrupted coverage.

Stan Sport will also feature tournament shoulder programming including the magazine-style show Grand Slam Daily streaming every morning.