Nole is out of the Australian Open in a four-set upset. Jannik Sinner dethroned the top seed to reach his first Grand Slam final.
World no.1 Novak Djokovic, who owns a record 10 Australian Open titles, suffered a 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 3-6 defeat to no.4 seed Jannik Sinner in Rod Laver Arena on Friday.
Novak was short of his best for much of the semi-final contest, making uncharacteristic amount of errors. Sinner was sharp in tactics and execution. The Italian stormed to two sets to love lead, breaking twice in the first and second sets.
The players held their serve in the third set. Djokovic fended off a match point in the tie-break before winning it 8-6, but was ultimately unable to rise to his rival’s challenge.
Sinner pressed on in the fourth set and quickly regained control. He broke the Serb again in the fourth game to seal the triumph, ending Novak’s 33-match winning streak and handing him his first Australian Open defeat since 2018.
The Belgrade native did not create a single break point chance during the three hour, 22-minute clash.
“I was, in a way, shocked with my level, in a bad way,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “There was not much I was doing right in the first two sets. I guess this is one of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve ever played. At least that I remember. Not a very pleasant feeling playing this way. But at the same time, credit to him for doing everything better than me, in every aspect of the game.”
Match statistics: aces (7-9), double faults (4-1), winners (32-31), unforced errors (54-28), total points won (98-128).
Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev (RUS) in Sunday’s Final.
Having won the Australian Open title in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, Novak was bidding to capture his 11th trophy in Melbourne.
It was the first time the Serbian star has been beaten at Melbourne Park when he reached the last four.
Novak will retain his place at the top of the ATP Rankings. He will start his 410th week as world no.1 on Monday.
Next stop for Djokovic will be the BNP Paribas Open from March 6-17. Nole won the Indian Wells title five times – in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016. It will be his first appearance in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since 2019.
You can download Nole 2024 March desktop calendar here.
Photo: Profimedia
