Djokovic retired injured against Alexander Zverev in the last four, but had knocked out four-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round.

Italian world number one Sinner lifted the Australian Open title, having done so one year earlier in 2024.

The pair both impressed down under, but many fans were disappointed not to see Djokovic and Sinner face off.

They had done so one year earlier, as Sinner shocked ten-time champion Djokovic in four sets, to advance to his first Major final.

It wasn’t to be this time around for the Serb, however, as a hamstring tear suffered in his quarter-final win over Alcaraz eventually crushed Djokovic’s Melbourne dream.

Health was also a concern for the 23-year-old during the tournament, although he managed to pull through after feeling sick during his fourth-round match with Holger Rune.

Speaking after the tournament, one top tennis coach explained how both Sinner and Djokovic were able to overcome adversity at the Australian Open.

Patrick Mouratoglou says ‘amazing’ Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic can win when they are ‘far from 100%’

Speaking on Instagram, Naomi Osaka’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou gave his thoughts on Sinner and Djokovic’s performances down under.

“I like the comparison between Novak [Djokovic] being injured and beating Carlos [Alcaraz], and Jannik [Sinner] being sick and beating Holger [Rune],” he said.

“There are two comparisons, actually, the first one is that those guys are able to still compete and win, at 30, 40, 50% of what they can do, which is amazing, and it’s the quality of the champions.

“I will say on the other hand, how difficult it is to play against someone who’s sick or injured, because you see it and it affects the way you play.

“The combination between a player who’s not able to play completely free, because he sees the other one is injured or sick, and on the other side, the other one that is a champion and able to sustain a level or find solutions, even being sick or injured. 

“The combination of those two things, is the reason why Novak beat Carlos and Jannik beat Holger.”

Mouratoglou then remembered a quote from the legendary Arthur Ashe, that both Djokovic and Sinner embodied at the Australian Open.

“The quote of Arthur Ashe, ‘Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can’,” he said.

“That’s exactly what champions are doing.

“Their will to win, their refusal to lose, their obsession to find solutions, make them able to achieve incredible things, even if they are far from being at 100%.

“That’s exactly what Sinner and Djokovic have done during this Australian Open.”

The French coach was keen to reiterate the importance of mentality in tennis.

“Most of the players at every level, focus on their problems,” he said.

“The champions, they focus on the solutions.”

What’s next for Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic after being ‘sick or injured’ at the Australian Open?

Many had expected the 37-year-old to miss several months, while he recovered from his hamstring tear.

However, news broke earlier on Saturday, that Djokovic could potentially return for the Qatar Open, later this month.

Appearing at the tournament, which begins on February 17, would be a huge boost for the Serb, as he looks to build momentum ahead of the French Open in May.

Sinner, the champion in Melbourne, recently withdrew from next week’s Rotterdam Open, where he was set to defend the title he won in 2024.

The Italian beat Alex de Minaur in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to win his seventh straight match against the Australian.

Sinner, like Djokovic, is now set to make his return to tennis in the Middle East later this month, as he joins a packed field in Doha.

The Qatar Open in Doha, is set to take place at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex, from February 17-22.

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