Tennis pundits Sam Querrey and Mary Joe Fernandez have disagreed over who will win Sunday’s Australian Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Both players are chasing history at this year’s first Grand Slam tournament, with Djokovic edging the head-to-head record between them 5-4. 

The Serb is looking to secure an outright record 25th Slam and become the oldest male winner in the Open Era. The 10-time champion has not won a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open, but beat Alcaraz in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park last year.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, meanwhile, is looking to become the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. Victory over Djokovic this weekend would see him pass Rafael Nadal‘s record, who was 24 when he won the 2010 US Open to complete the set.

And former American tennis player Querrey believes Alcaraz will eclipse Nadal’s milestone on Sunday. Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, he said: “I think Carlos [will win], but I don’t feel [comfortable] saying it. After what I saw from Novak, I am excited.”

However, former Australian Open doubles winner, Fernandez, is backing the Serbian. Speaking live on ESPN, she said: “Sentimental favourite, Novak Djokovic. He’s trying to do what [Elena] Rybakina just did by beating [Iga] Swiatek and [Aryna] Sabalenka, number one and two in the world.

“I think the stars are aligned. A lot of things going his way in this Australian Open. So I’m going to go with Novak.

“I mean, he’s superhuman. Remember, Alcaraz, as well as Novak, they’re gonna be feeling it physically, and I just think Novak has the experience at this level.

“He’s going for a title, what? 11, 11 down under.”

After beating Sinner in five gruelling sets at 1.30am in the semi-finals on Saturday, Djokovic told the Rod Laver Arena crowd that it felt like he had already won the title. And the Serb later admitted it was one of his best matches in recent years, as he looks to repeat that level this weekend.

He said: “To be honest, I wouldn’t dare to call it the finest ever, but definitely the finest in the last couple of years.

“Under the circumstances and semis against, you know, Sinner, who has been playing best tennis of his life in last couple of years, particularly here, two-time defending champion, doesn’t get better than this.”