Defending champion Jannik Sinner will face Alexander Zverev in the first Australian Open men’s final between the players ranked No. 1 and No. 2 since Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal in 2019. The top-seeded Sinner is a 23-year-old from Italy who can become the youngest man to win two consecutive trophies at Melbourne Park since Jim Courier in 1992 and 1993.

In total, Sinner has won 36 of his last 37 matches, his only defeat coming against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of October’s China Open.

MELBOURNE, Australia — If it seems as if there’s always something going on with Novak Djokovic at Grand Slam tournaments, that’s because there usually is. Even Djokovic himself acknowledged as much as he prepared to face Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open semifinals Friday after taking painkillers for a hurt left leg.