The top four seeds have all reached the semifinals of the 2026 Australian Open in the men’s singles event, creating an exciting lineup of matches. While top seed Carlos Alcaraz will face third-seeded Alexander Zverev, second-seeded and two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner will take on fourth-seeded and 10-time champion Novak Djokovic. Here is a look at the two matchups scheduled for Day 13, Jan. 30, at the 2026 Australian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz Looking To Complete His Career Grand Slam As He Faces Alexander Zverev in the Semifinal
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will look to achieve his ambition of completing the career Grand Slam as he takes on third-seeded Alexander Zverev. Alcaraz has been in pristine form in Melbourne this year, with the Spaniard yet to drop a set. He won his earlier rounds against Adam Walton, Yannick Hanfmann, and Corentin Moutet to reach the fourth round, where he won 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 over 19th-seeded Tommy Paul. In the quarterfinals, he ended home hopes by winning 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 against sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur to reach his first Australian Open semifinal.
Zverev, meanwhile, has faced a challenging draw throughout the Australian Open. The third seed had four-set wins over Gabriel Diallo, Alexandre Mülle,r and Cameron Norrie in the first three rounds, after which he won 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 against 18th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo. In the quarterfinals, he faced another difficult opponent in 25th-seeded Learner Tien, winning 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-6 (3) against the young American to reach the semifinal.
The head-to-head between the two players is tied at 6-6, with PFSN’s Exclusive Tennis Simulator giving a 75% win probability to Alcaraz. When comparing tournament statistics for both players, there is little difference in some key metrics. Zverev has won 79% of his first-serve points compared to Alcaraz’s 75%, with both players winning 60% of the points behind their second serve. Both have been broken seven times in five matches and have secured 26 service breaks in return games.
However, two key metrics in which Zverev has outperformed Alcaraz this year in Melbourne are aces and winners. The German has hit 80 aces and 289 winners compared to the Spaniard’s 26 aces and 218 winners, signaling that the third seed is playing a more attacking brand of tennis. However, given Alcaraz’s record at Grand Slams and that he has won three of his last four matches against Zverev, the top seed is the favorite to reach the final.
Pick: Alcaraz to win in four sets
Jannik Sinner Will Face Novak Djokovic at a Grand Slam Semifinal for the Fifth Time
Jannik Sinner will face Novak Djokovic in the semifinal of the 2026 Australian Open, marking the pair’s fifth Grand Slam semifinal meeting. Sinner began his campaign with wins over Hugo Gaston and James Duckworth but appeared in trouble against Elliot Spizzirri while dealing with cramps under the blazing Melbourne sun. However, with the heat rule coming into effect and the roof closing, the Italian won the match in four sets. He then defeated compatriot Luciano Darderi in straight sets in the fourth round. In the quarterfinals, he faced eighth-seeded Ben Shelton, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 against the American.
Djokovic, meanwhile, faced little trouble in his first three rounds, posting wins over Pedro Martinez, Francesco Maestrelli and Botic Van de Zandschulp. Since then, the Serb has benefited from favorable circumstances in reaching the semifinal. He received a walkover from 16th-seeded Jakub Menšík in the fourth round, a player who had beaten him in the Miami Open final last year. Djokovic’s biggest stroke of fortune came in the quarterfinals against fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian outplayed Djokovic to win the first two sets but sustained an injury in the third set and was forced to retire, sending the Serb into the semifinal.
The head-to-head between the Sinner and Djokovic is 6-4 in favor of the Italian, with him winning the last five matches. PFSN’s Exclusive Tennis Simulator gives Sinner a 76% win probability based on his performances against Djokovic in recent meetings. Djokovic, by his own admission, was close to elimination in the previous round if not for Musetti’s injury. From there, reaching a level that could threaten Sinner appears unlikely. As a result, the Italian enters the match with the edge.
Pick: Sinner to win in four sets
