The first Grand Slam final of the year is set to take over Melbourne Park as the 2026 Australian Open prepares to crown its men’s champion. After two weeks of blistering heat, dramatic five‑setters and breakout performances, the tournament now comes down to one last showdown inside Rod Laver Arena.
Below is everything fans need to know ahead of the championship match, from the scheduled start time to broadcast details and what to expect when the finalists step onto the court.
Who is in the 2026 Australian Open men’s final?
The final will feature world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain against No. 4 Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
Djokovic leads the head‑to‑head 5-4, though Alcaraz won their most recent meeting, the 2025 U.S. Open semifinals, in straight sets. The two also met in the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals, where Djokovic prevailed in four sets.
Their semifinal runs this year kept fans on their feet, delivering 10 sets of remarkable tennis.
In the first semifinal, Alcaraz faced world No. 2 Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard won the first two sets before the German battled back to force a fifth. Ultimately, the 22‑year‑old Alcaraz edged out a 7-5 victory to secure the first spot in the final.
In the second semifinal, Djokovic took on world No. 3 and defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. After splitting the first four sets, Djokovic closed out the fifth 6-4 to earn a chance at his 11th Australian Open title.
When is the 2026 Australian Open men’s final?
The championship match is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1, at 3:30 a.m. ET.
A replay of the match will air later that morning at 9 a.m. ET.
Here are five things to know about Spanish professional tennis player Carlos Alcaraz.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open final
The final will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed live on the ESPN app.
An encore presentation of the match will air on ESPN2.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic picked up tennis when he was four and now is one of the most accomplished players ever.
Is there any history on the line?
Djokovic is aiming for his 25th major singles title on Sunday. He already holds the Open Era record, but a win in Melbourne would move him past Margaret Court and make him the all‑time leader in Grand Slam titles.
On the other hand, the 22-year-old Alcaraz is striving to become the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam, which is achieved by winning all four of a sport’s major championships at any point during a player’s career, rather than in the same calendar year
What is the longest Australian Open match?
The 2026 semifinal matchups were long, grueling battles.
Alcaraz vs. Zverev lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes.
Sinner vs. Djokovic ran 4 hours and 9 minutes.
The Alcaraz–Zverev marathon now ranks as the third‑longest match in tournament history.
The longest Australian Open match and the longest match in Grand Slam final history remains the 2012 men’s singles final between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, a five‑set epic won by Djokovic.