MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – In a moment filled with exhaustion and elation, acclaimed tennis player Novak Djokovic acknowledged Margaret Court in the crowd during his post-match interview, expressing gratitude for her presence despite the late hour as he edged closer to becoming the most decorated tennis player in history.

The 83-year-old Court was present at the Rod Laver Arena for Djokovic's intense five-set victory over two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner. This grueling semifinal encounter ended shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. By achieving this win, Djokovic now shares the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles with Court, a record that could potentially change on Sunday.

Djokovic’s victory set the stage for a championship matchup against top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, the talented 22-year-old Spaniard who is aiming to become the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam. Alcaraz and Sinner have recently thwarted Djokovic's pursuit of a 25th major title, with the two players having won the last eight Grand Slam tournaments between them.

In his on-court interview following the dramatic semifinal, Djokovic expressed appreciation to Court for staying late to witness what was a significant win for him, especially after overcoming five previous losses to Sinner and a streak of four semifinal defeats in Grand Slam tournaments. "Some legends stayed up to 2 a.m.! Thank-you so much for being here," remarked Djokovic.

With numerous records to his name, Djokovic has surpassed previous benchmarks set by tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He currently holds one more Grand Slam title than Serena Williams, who has the all-time record for women's titles in the Open era with 23. Djokovic’s primary objective in Australia is to claim the coveted 25th Grand Slam title.

While some commentators have questioned the legitimacy of Court's tally due to 13 of her major titles being won prior to the professional Open era starting in 1968, Djokovic stands firmly behind the records, acknowledging their significance. After defeating Sinner, Djokovic prepares for his 11th final at Melbourne Park, where he previously secured victory in all 10 of his past finals.

At 38 years old, Djokovic mentioned feeling sore and tired after the semifinal, indicating a focus on recovery rather than practice ahead of the final. Alcaraz, on the other hand, also expressed a desire to prioritize recovery as he dealt with cramping and discomfort in his right leg after a marathon five-set, 5-hour and 27-minute semifinal against Alexander Zverev, which set a record for the longest semifinal match in Australian Open history.

In a moment of sportsmanship, Djokovic crossed paths with Alcaraz post-match, praising him for his perseverance. The two top contenders have swiftly become pivotal figures in the tennis world, with Djokovic aiming for history and Alcaraz vying to make his mark as well. "There's always, for me, also for Carlos—because of his age and everything he's achieved—history is on the line," Djokovic noted.

While Djokovic has not won a major since the 2023 U.S. Open, he remains confident and motivated, refuting claims by experts predicting his decline. "There's a lot of people that doubted me... a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me. I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong," Djokovic stated.

As the final approaches, Djokovic seeks to become the oldest man in the Open era to win a major title, whereas Alcaraz aims to be the youngest to achieve victories at all four Grand Slam tournaments. With both players carrying the weight of history into the match, their clash promises to be a remarkable event.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal, who will be present at the final, expressed his support for Alcaraz, stating, "I feel I have to support Carlos. But if Novak wins, I will be happy for him. It is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career."