Jannik Sinner Stuns Novak Djokovic, Advances to First Grand Slam Final at Australian Open
Defending Champion Djokovic Upset in Semi-finals as Sinner Makes History
At the Australian Open on Friday, Jannik Sinner defeated defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 to deny the top seed his a loss at his Melbourne Park stronghold in six years and advance to his first grand slam final.
Djokovic's lone loss in the semi-finals of his preferred major was triggered by Sinner's masterpiece in the first two sets. The teenage player also made history by becoming the first Italian to compete in a singles final at the Australian Open.
Sinner, who did not encounter a single break point during the match, described it as "a very, very tough match." "I sensed he was not feeling well on the court for the first two sets, so I just tried to keep pushing. Then, in the third set, I had match point, but I missed the forehand, but that's tennis for you know."
By taking advantage of his 36-year-old opponent's erratic serve and prone backhand, the fourth-seeded Sinner got off to a merry start and won the first set with ease.
When Djokovic fell to South Korean player Chung Hyeon in the 2018 tournament in his favorite haunt, it was the first time he had lost there since 2010. The 10-time Melbourne champion showed signs of concern when the 22-year-old Sinner won the next match with easily with to two breaks.
In the third set, the Sinner tsunami didn't seem to be slowing down, but Djokovic improved his game to maintain his lead until the tiebreak, when the Italian wasted a match point at 6-5 by forehanding into the net to give his opponent a chance to win.
Loud applause greeted Djokovic's set back as he won the next three games, but Sinner broke for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set and cruised to victory to end the Serb's 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic said that, out of more than 400 grand slam matches, this one was his weakest performance. "In the first two sets, I wasn't performing very well at all. One of the worst grand slam matches I've ever played, I suppose, he said.
Contrary doubles
The Australian Open mixed doubles winners are Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan and Jan Zielinski of Poland, who defeated Desirae Krawczyk of the United States and Neal Skupski of Britain 6-7(5), 6-4, 11-9.
