Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner secured a historic victory at the Australian Open, ending Novak Djokovic’s remarkable run in Melbourne and reaching his first Grand Slam final.
Djokovic, seeking his record-extending 11th title and a 25th major, succumbed to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 defeat as Sinner displayed resilience after missing a match point in the tie-break.
The loss marked Djokovic’s first at the Australian Open since 2018, halting a streak of 33 consecutive victories in Melbourne. Sinner, at 22, became the first Italian to advance to a singles final in Melbourne and will face either Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev or German sixth seed Alexander Zverev.
Sinner capitalized on Djokovic’s uncharacteristic errors from the outset, breaking his opponent’s serve early and maintaining relentless pressure. The first set concluded with Sinner leading 5-1, leaving the Melbourne crowd in shock witnessing Djokovic’s rare struggles on Rod Laver Arena.
Despite Djokovic’s reputation for comebacks, Sinner continued his dominant play in the second set, preventing the Serbian from creating any break point opportunities. Djokovic’s task became even more challenging as he struggled with unforced errors.
In a surprising twist, Djokovic managed to claim a tense third set, winning a tie-break after saving a match point. However, Sinner regrouped impressively for the fourth set, breaking Djokovic’s serve decisively and securing a 3-1 lead.
Reflecting on his victory, Sinner acknowledged the significance of defeating a player of Djokovic’s caliber, citing his confidence from recent wins against top players. Sinner expressed his happiness at reaching his first Grand Slam final and highlighted the lessons learned from a previous defeat at Wimbledon.
With Djokovic’s elimination, the Australian Open men’s singles trophy is guaranteed to have a new name engraved, adding a fresh chapter to the tournament’s history. The attention now shifts to the upcoming semi-final between Medvedev and Zverev, as the tennis world eagerly anticipates who will emerge victorious in this unpredictable Grand Slam.
Reported By BBC Sports
