Injury News: Will Carlos Alcaraz be fit for final face-off against Novak Djokovic at Australian Open 2026?

Alcaraz is one win away from becoming youngest-ever to complete a career slam.

A mouth-watering contest awaits as World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz prepares to face off against the indomitable Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles final.

Set for February 1 at Rod Laver Arena, this matchup promises fireworks between the 22-year-old Spanish prodigy, chasing his first Melbourne title and seventh Major overall, and the 38-year-old Serbian legend, aiming to extend his record with an 11th Australian Open crown.

Their rivalry stands at 5-4 in Djokovic’s favour from nine ATP encounters, but Alcaraz won their most recent exchange in New York. However, fitness concerns loom large for both stars following exhausting semi-finals, setting the stage for a grueling battle of endurance.

Alcaraz’s journey to the final was a testament to his resilience in a historic semi-final against Alexander Zverev on January 30. Now the longest semi-final in Australian Open history at five hours and 27 minutes, the match saw Alcaraz dominate early with a 6-4, 7-6(3) lead.

But at 4-4 in the third set, he clutched his right leg, prompting a medical timeout amid controversy. Zverev, last year’s runner-up, protested, suspecting cramps, which limit treatment options. Despite losing the next two sets 6-7(5), 6-7(4), Alcaraz mounted a comeback, reeling off four straight games in the fifth for a 7-5 victory, securing his maiden Australian Open final berth.

Also Read: Did Carlos Alcaraz consider retiring mid-match against Alexander Zverev during Australian Open 2026 semi-final?

In his post-match update, Alcaraz clarified it was cramping, not a severe injury, and expressed optimism for recovery within 48 hours.

He detailed: “Well, obviously I feel tired. You know, obviously, my body could be better, to be honest, but I think that’s normal after five hours and a half. So I just did whatever it takes just to try to be better, to feel better tomorrow. Ice bath… I’m going to have treatment with the physio now, and we will see.

Hopefully it’s not going to be nothing at all, but after five-hours-and-a-half match and that high level of physically, I think the muscles are going to be tight, and I just got to do whatever it takes to be as good as I can for the final.”

“Well, I mean, it was really demanding, the match, but obviously when I just felt cramps before, and in the beginning, when it was on a specific just one muscle, so I didn’t think was cramp at all at the beginning.

I didn’t know exactly what it was, because I just go around to a forehand and then I started to feel it just in the right adductor, so that’s why I just called the physio… He decided to take the medical timeout, and he did it”, said the Spaniard, shedding light on his injury which caused him troubles during his semi-final clash against the German.

Djokovic, meanwhile, also enters with his own physical woes. At 38, the veteran has battled age-related wear, including persistent blisters on his hands and feet throughout the tournament.

Despite benefiting from two walkovers in earlier rounds, including a bye and mid-match forfeit, he endured a punishing five-set semi-final against Jannik Sinner, lasting over four hours.

As these two players, standing at opposite ends of their careers, chase history, expect them to throw everything in their arsenal in pursuit of the 2026 Australian Open men’s singles title.

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