Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic Prediction 1/30/2026 Today’s Tennis Picks

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic lock horns in the semifinal of the 2026 Australian Open on Friday, January 30. Here’s our Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic prediction. This preview will also include a Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic pick.

Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic Preview

Jannik Sinner reached the Australian Open semifinals with a straight-sets win over Ben Shelton. The match took 29 games to decide and lasted two hours and 25 minutes. One break was all Sinner needed to winthe first set 6-3, where he only faced one break point on his serve. In the second set, Sinner replicated the same trick, breaking Shelton and consolidating to win the set 6-4. The final set was tight for the first eight games, but Sinner stepped it up a level in the ninth game, when he broke Shelton and held to 15 to prevail. 

Sinner hit 33 winners and 16 unforced errors in the victory. That included 5 aces and 2 double faults. Sinner landed 59% of first serves in play and won 78% of first serve points (42/54). Sinner won 65% of second serve points (24/37) and saved all four break points he faced in the match. Sinner kept the defense of his title alive and chases a third successive final appearance in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, is back in the semifinals of the Australian Open in quite fortuitous circumstances. The Serbian trailed Sinner’s countryman Lorenzo Musetti by two sets before Musetti retired with injury. Djokovic looked in real trouble, but Musetti was unable to continue after falling a break down early in the third set.

Djokovic has not won a set in the past two matches. He received a walkover in the fourth round when Jakub Mensik withdrew from the tournament and earned a retirement win in the quarters while trailing by two sets. Djokovic has now reached a seventh successive semifinal at the Australian Open, but has stumbled in that stage in the last two seasons. Last year, he retired from the semifinals against Alexander Zverev.

Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic Head-To-Head

Sinner and Djokovic have met 10 times in competitive matches at tour level. Sinner leads 6-4 and is the only player to have beaten Djokovic in a semifinal match at the Australian Open (2024).

Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic Prediction

Djokovic has the history, aura and pedigree in Grand Slams and more so at the Australian Open, where he was once invincible in semifinal matches until Sinner came to the limelight. The Italian’s superior ball striking and rally tolerance eclipses Djokovic at this stage of their careers. While Djokovic maintains the faintest of hopes of winning this match, Sinner should power through to his third Melbourne final.

Nur Said's Pick: Jannik Sinner in four sets