Jannik Sinner halted Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title by defeating the Serbian in the Australian Open semi-final, ending Djokovic’s remarkable 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.
Sinner secured his first major final appearance by overcoming Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, despite dropping his first set of the tournament.
The 22-year-old Italian was poised and confident throughout the match, and although Djokovic fought fiercely, Sinner’s exceptional performance propelled him to victory. Djokovic’s uncharacteristic display, marked by 54 errors and an inability to create a break point, contributed to Sinner’s triumph.
Sinner acknowledged the difficulty of the match and expressed his satisfaction with his performance. Drawing from the experience of his defeat to Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals the previous year, he emphasized his determination to excel in the match and highlighted the significance of returning as many balls as possible against Djokovic’s formidable serve.
Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, experienced a rare defeat at the tournament, struggling to maintain his usual precision and consistency against Sinner’s composed and assertive play. Despite Djokovic’s efforts to rally and the crowd’s vocal support, Sinner’s composure and strategic play enabled him to secure the victory after three hours and 22 minutes.
Sinner’s remarkable win in the semi-final sets the stage for a potentially historic final and heralds a new name on the Australian Open trophy, as he awaits the winner between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev for Sunday’s title match.