Novak Djokovic, the current World No 1, expressed his surprise and disappointment following his semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. The Serbian, who hadn’t suffered a loss at the tournament in 2195 days, encountered a challenging match where he struggled with his form and committed 54 unforced errors, ultimately conceding the match in four sets.
Acknowledging the subpar nature of his performance, Djokovic admitted, “I was, in a way, shocked with my level, in a bad way. This is one of the worst grand slam matches I’ve ever played, at least that I remember.” Despite his unparalleled track record at the Australian Open, Djokovic found himself down two sets within 74 minutes against the Italian opponent.
Djokovic praised Sinner for playing a “flawless match“ and highlighted the impact of a strong serve, noting that he failed to create a single break point opportunity during the three-hour, 22-minute duel. “Obviously if you serve well and if you don’t face a break point, it plays with the mind of your opponent, meaning you can put more pressure on his service games – my service games in this case – and you kind of swing freely,” Djokovic remarked.
Throughout the tournament, Djokovic felt that he was “not playing up to par” and expressed uncertainty about returning to his previous level. However, he emphasized that this setback does not signify the end of his career, stating, “It’s not the feeling that I’m used to.”
Jannik Sinner, who secured the most significant victory of his career, acknowledged the challenges of facing Djokovic and the mental resilience required to close out the match. Despite failing to convert a match point in the third set tie-break, Sinner maintained a positive mindset, recognising the lead he held in sets.
Reflecting on the match, Sinner revealed, “I realised, especially the first sets, he was not playing that great, but I tried to have the intensity as high as possible, and I took the chance.” The 22-year-old remained composed after the victory, looking ahead to the final and keeping his emotions in check.
Djokovic’s defeat in the semi-finals marks a significant moment in his career, as it is his first-ever loss at this stage in the Australian Open. However, he remains optimistic about future tournaments, expressing high hopes for other Grand Slams, the Olympics, and the upcoming season. The unexpected outcome sets the stage for a different Sunday for Djokovic in Melbourne, as he navigates the aftermath of a rare defeat.
