Jannik Sinner has assessed Novak Djokovic’s struggles in his magnificent victory over the Serbian in the semifinal of 2024 Australian Open. The Italian noted that Djokovic was not moving or hitting the ball as well as he normally does in the first two sets and also thinks that the 36-year-old wasn’t his usual self in terms of focus.
The 22-year-old overcame 24-time Major Champion 6-1, 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-3 in the last four of the Australian Open on Friday to enter his maiden Grand Slam final. He ended Djokovic’s 33-match win streak at the first slam of the season and became the first player to prevail against Djokovic in Melbourne Park since Hyeon Chung in 2018.
Sinner will take on the winner of Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The World No. 4 was asked for his thoughts on the Serbian’s performance and explained he recognized the opportunity when it came to beat the 10-time Australian Open champion.
“Yeah, for sure the first two sets I saw that he was not hitting the ball as he used to,” he admitted in his press conference.
“He was also not moving that well, no, and then I think he was also not that focused like we used to see him, no? So I saw this, but in the other way, being No 1, you have to be ready for that he change things up and that he has done before in the third set the level that was even.
“He’s also maybe the best returner we have in the game. Didn’t have one breakpoint, so these are stats what are unusual for him. But in the other way, this can happen, no? In tennis when you have a bad day, it’s also tough to get out as a winner, no?
“So 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 10-time ATP tour titlist also expressed his thoughts on defeating Djokovic twice at the end of the 2023 season and admitted that it gave him the mental boost ahead of his matchup against the 36-year-old rival.
“Yeah, for sure. It gives you a better feeling when you know that you can beat one player. For me was a huge privilege end of last year to play against him in ten days for three times, because obviously you can practice with him, but the match is always different,” said Sinner.
“So I feel like this for sure helped me in one way, but in the other way, it’s as I said before, Grand Slam also mentally it’s different. I just tried to play also as relaxed as possible but also having the right game plan in my mind. I think today it worked really well.”