India, Feb. 1 -- From being an afterthought in a tournament he has won a record 10 times, Novak Djokovic needed just one match to force his way back into the conversation. Suddenly, the prospect of an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, and his first in more than a year, feels very real again at the Australian Open.

The rise of the men's tennis New World Order, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz sharing the last eight majors between them, had pushed Djokovic's pursuit of surpassing Margaret Court's all-time record into the background. So much so that the Serb was being quietly written off. Until Friday night.

Under the lights on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic produced another masterclass, ending two-time defending champion Sinner's reign...