In the most anticipated match so far, Jannik Sinner put on a one-in-a-lifetime display against ten-time champion Novak Djokovic as the Italian moves on to his maiden Grand Slam final after outlasting the Serbian in four sets in the first Australian Open 2024 semifinal. As fans bore witness to the new gens of Sinner and Alcaraz defeating the invincible Djokovic last year, many had high hopes for the Italian, and he delivered as he blew away the Serbian in the first two sets before Novak recovered in the third in classic fashion. However, Djokovic’s cloak of invincibility finally broke as Sinner advanced to the Australian Open 2024 final with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 scoreline.
Jannik Sinner Has Only Drop One Set En Route to the Australian Open 2024 Final
Before this Australian Open 2024 semifinal encounter, Jannik Sinner had not dropped a set, while Novak struggled in the opening two rounds and a difficult quarterfinal encounter against Taylor Fritz. In response to his performance, the 36-year-old mentioned that he felt more taxing travelling to Down Under this year than years before. The tiredness and sluggishness evidently shown in the first two sets as Sinner outpaced, outstroke and overpowered the Serbian in a dominating fashion.
Former world number one and Australian Open 2024 commentator Jim Courier described the spectacle as “almost beyond belief”. “I have never seen Novak beaten like this at any tournament. You would have to take a good long look at the past for that.” Nevertheless, Novak, like always, found a second gear in this Australian Open 2024 semifinal encounter as he took the third set in a gruesome tiebreak in which he saw off a match point.
However, the fourth set proved one step too heavy for the languish champion as Sinner was sharp in tactics and execution, knocking back Djokovic with his weight of shot and fundamentals on serve. For context, the world number one made 54 unforced errors and did not create a break point opportunity throughout the match as his 33-match unbeaten streak at Rod Laver Arena came to an end to a deserving winner.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐊 𝐃𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈-𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 🤯
Jannik Sinner makes history en route to reaching his first-ever Grand Slam final 👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/88MnpBVAmu
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 26, 2024
Novak Djokovic Admitted Sinner Outplayed Him in Australian Open 2024 Semifinal Post-Match Interview
After suffering his first defeat since 2018 against the then-rising star Chung Hyeon, Novak Djokovic admitted Sinner was just the player in this Australian Open 2024 semifinal encounter. “He’s deservedly in the final, as he outplayed me completely. I was, in a way, shocked with my level. I mean, not much I was doing right in the first two sets. And yeah, I guess this is one of the worst grand slam matches I’ve ever played. 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.”
As for the manner of defeat, Djokovic replied: “I’m kind of hot-headed right now after the match. It’s very difficult to reflect on things in a more profound way, so maybe tomorrow, maybe in a few days, but I definitely have a lot to be very proud of in terms of what I have achieved here. The streak was going to end one day. It was going to happen, and at least I gave everything I possibly could under circumstances where I didn’t play well.”
As for whether this is just an off-tournament of his age finally catching up to him, Djokovic responded: “Let’s see, I don’t know. I still have high hopes, you know, for the slams and Olympics and whatever tournaments that I’ll play. It’s just the beginning of the season. It’s not the feeling that I’m used to. It has been incredibly satisfying for me to start off most of my seasons with a grand slam win – I’ve never lost in the semis or finals of the Australian Open – so this time it’s a bit different, but it is what it is and let’s see.”
"This is one of the worst Grand Slam matches I've ever played!"
Brutal honesty from Novak Djokovic – who sets the highest standard for himself.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/jWOZUmKzcq
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 26, 2024
Jannik Sinner Highlighted His Serve as Key to Victory
In his winner’s interview after beating Djokovic in the Australian Open 2024 semifinal, Jannik Sinner told Jim Courier that he felt Novak was struggling in the early sets. “It was a was a very, very tough match. I started off really well. For two sets, I felt like he was not feeling that great on the court, so I just tried to keep pushing. And then in the third set, I had match point, and I missed the forehand, but you know, this is tennis. And I just tried to be ready for the next set, which I started off really well.”
As for the key to victory, the Italian responded: “The serve. It has improved a lot, but still, I have the feeling that I can still improve a lot. That would be ominous for the rest of the tour after doing this to Djokovic.”
With the next Australian Open 2024 semifinal proceeding after this last, Jannik Sinner gave no reply on who he rather face in the final. “I would have been watching even if he wasn’t in the final. I’m a huge tennis fan, so it’s good to watch also for me.”
Also Read: Lautaro Martínez’s Stoppage-Time Goal Earns Inter Milan Their 8th Triumph at the Supercoppa Italiana
Australian Open 2024 Final Could Be Jannik Sinner’s First Grand Slam Trophy of Many
It has been a steady rise for the Italian sensation as he won his first masters 1000 and Davis Cup last year and ended as the runner-up in the Nitto ATP finals to his opponent of today. This year, he has already reached his first Grand Slam final and may even win his first in the upcoming Australian Open 2024 final on Sunday.
However, we have seen the scenario when Sinner beat Djokovic and lost the final a month ago. Thus, everyone on the Italian hype train should refrain from celebrating too early, as everything only matters on the day. Regardless, Jannik Sinner is the heavy favourite heading into Sunday’s final, and if he replicates his performance so far, he will join a very coveted list of Grand Slam winners.
🤯 Last time that not one of Federer, Nadal or Djokovic reached the Australian Open Final:
– George W. Bush had just began his 2nd Presidential term.
– The iPhone, YouTube and Twitter didn’t exist.
– Djokovic and Nadal had 0 Majors.
– Alcaraz was 1.5 years old. pic.twitter.com/CVUPTqrzNq
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) January 26, 2024
