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Whoever wins Sunday’s Australian Open men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will create history.

Djokovic, 38, has been stuck on 24 Grand Slam titles since September 2023 – and one more success will take him clear of Margaret Court’s record of major singles titles.

One of the young guns stopping Djokovic has been 22-year-old Alcaraz.

The Spaniard has already lifted six major trophies – and victory in Melbourne would seal a maiden Australian Open title and make him the youngest man to have won all four Grand Slams.

Unlike Alcaraz, Djokovic does not have time on his side.

That is why this final feels so crucial for Djokovic – and that could provide the fuel to fire him to crowning glory.

At the beginning of the season-opening Grand Slam, Djokovic insisted he did not feel this fortnight was “make or break” for his ambition of hitting the magic number of 25.

It felt like Djokovic was attempting to release the pressure on himself, and that has continued going into Sunday’s showpiece.

Asked about its significance in the context of his career, Djokovic said: “The final of a Grand Slam, there is a lot at stake. But it is no different from any other big match that I play.”

Only Djokovic knows if he truly believes that.

Melbourne Park has always felt like the place where Djokovic is most likely to break Court’s record, given his success there.

He has already claimed a record 10 men’s Australian Open titles and, overall, won 104 of his 114 matches on the faster hard courts.

A remarkable quarter-final victory over Alcaraz last year will also act as inspiration.

An element of luck helped Djokovic this year – avoiding a third-round default after almost hitting a ball girl with a reckless swipe, his fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrawing injured before their match and then watching a stricken Lorenzo Musetti quit when the Italian led their quarter-final by two sets to love.

Nothing was fortuitous about the way he outlasted two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

It was vintage Djokovic, full of snap and snarl as he achieved what virtually everyone thought was impossible.

“I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself. There’s a lot of people that doubt me,” Djokovic said.

“I see there is a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me or have retired me many times the last couple of years.

“I want to thank them all, because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong.”

Beating the 24-year-old Sinner amid doubts over his age and physical condition is why it must be ranked alongside the finest victories of Djokovic’s storied career.

Ever since Alcaraz won the French Open in 2024, the talk has been when, and not if, he would complete the career Slam.

Last year’s attempt was ended in the most extraordinary style by Djokovic who, playing through the pain of a torn hamstring, used his nous to baffle Alcaraz and come through a four-set thriller.

A measured Alcaraz was not overly despondent afterwards but has returned to Melbourne intent on winning.

Asked if he had to pick completing the career Slam now at the expense of the other three majors this season, Alcaraz said: “I would choose this one. I would rather win this one than the [other] three so I can complete the Grand Slam and be the youngest ever to do it.”

Alcaraz wants the title as much as Djokovic – that is in no doubt.

Both players ultimately enjoyed their semi-finals, given the outcomes, but they suffered physically in marathon matches.

How each man pulls up on Sunday will have a significant bearing on the result.

While showing few outward signs of struggling with the foot blisters which troubled him in the quarter-finals, Djokovic regularly looked gassed against Sinner before finding further reserves to win in four hours and nine minutes.

Alcaraz needed a medical timeout – which he said was for an adductor problem even though he seemed to be cramping – midway through a five-hour, five-set battle against Zverev.

“[Carlos] also had a big match, but he has 15-16 years on me. Biologically I think it’s going to be a bit easier for him to recover,” Djokovic added.

Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal for Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega worth up to £500,000.

Sean Dyche’s side are also trying to sign Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, initially on loan with the option for a permanent transfer.

The 26-year-old has won 33 caps for Italy and has played 19 games for Inter this season.

German Ortega, 33, is currently third choice at the Etihad behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford.

He is out of contract this summer and is yet to feature for Pep Guardiola’s side this season.

Forest’s need for a keeper stems from a knee injury suffered by John Victor that is set to rule him out for the rest of the season.

The City Ground club had held talks with Wolves over a move for Jose Sa, but have since pivoted to Ortega.

Ortega has played 56 games for City since joining in 2022 and played a key role in their Premier League title win in 2024.

He played 22 games last season, including appearances in the Club World Cup in July and the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace.

Aryna Sabalenka has been the dominant force in women’s tennis for the past two seasons.

With baseline power anchoring her game, the 27-year-old Belarusian has pummelled opponents on the way to nine WTA titles and created a clear gap at the top of the world rankings.

Yet there are still questions about Sabalenka’s big-game mentality – and with justifiable cause after her latest loss in a major final.

Sabalenka admirably fought back in Saturday’s Australian Open showpiece against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and led 3-0 in the decider, only to end up losing 4-6 6-4 4-6.

“I felt that Sabalenka really beat herself up in that final set,” former British number one Annabel Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Sabalenka’s four Grand Slam titles are more than most people can dream of.

But having lost four other finals, there is an inescapable feeling that the world number one is not quite fulfilling her potential on the sport’s grandest stages.

Six losses in major semi-finals – including at last year’s Wimbledon – also add to the noise.

“Right now I don’t want to think about tennis, but my ambitions are still the same,” Sabalenka said.

Sabalenka has produced a consistency at the majors that is unrivalled in the women’s game.

With a style that translates across all surfaces, she has reached 13 semi-finals in her past 14 Slam appearances.

Such a record was unthinkable in her early days on tour.

At that time Sabalenka had a reputation as a player lacking the mental resilience needed to become a serial winner.

Things clicked into place before the 2023 season.

Remodelling her serve with the guidance of biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan proved vital in cutting down on the double faults that had plagued her.

She also worked with a psychologist before realising the changes had to come from within.

Possessing a slightly calmer demeanour helped Sabalenka land her first major when she beat Rybakina in the 2023 Australian Open final.

With the pressure uncorked, she continued to play freer on her way to retaining the Melbourne title in 2024, then earned back-to-back victories at the 2024 and 2025 US Opens.

Sabalenka was the heavy favourite to beat unseeded American underdog Madison Keys and claim a third straight Melbourne title, but the instability of her second serve returned in a three-set defeat.

At the French Open she played what she described as the “worst final” of her life, hitting 70 unforced errors in windy conditions.

Her performance against Rybakina – who was bidding for a second major title after her 2022 Wimbledon win – was far from disastrous.

In fact, there had been signs she was maintaining her composure until fifth seed Rybakina broke back in the deciding set.

Out of nowhere, errors streamed from both wings as Sabalenka lost serve again for 4-3 and her focus further unravelled.

At one point she dropped her racquet and kicked it across the court in frustration.

Rybakina, meanwhile, remained ice-cool and served out with the aid of two aces for her second major title.

Asked why she felt she lost momentum in the decider, Sabalenka said: “It was great tennis from her. Maybe not so smart for me.

Annabel Croft, former British number one, on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think the composure Sabalenka had for most of the match got her to 3-0 in the final set.

“I felt that she had really taken her game to another level, but she couldn’t keep forging ahead because there was resistance down the other end.

“Then the arms started flailing and it got a little bit immature out there.

“She wasn’t handling the situation well, she was strutting around and she lost her composure completely.”

Pat Cash, Australian 1987 Wimbledon champion, on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Sabalenka was very effective on the first serve in the second set, barely dropping a point when she got the return in.

“Rybakina did have some wobbles on her forehand in the semi-final, but other than that it was clean ball-striking.