Jannik Sinner has once again overcome Novak Djokovic and that too on Rod Laver Arena where he has never been beaten in Semifinals (10-0). Boris Becker has reviewed Sinner’s staggering victory while Laura Robson highlighted the scary silence on Rod Laver Arena at the end of the semifinal.
The Italian has put a lid on Djokovic’s supreme reign in the tourney as he became the first player to hand Djokovic a defeat at Melbourne Park since Hyeon Chung in 2018. Displaying a true tennis clinic, the World No. 4 looked unstoppable in the first two frames as he barely dropped three games to shock the tennis world. Although, Djokovic displayed some semblance of return by forcing the tiebreak in third set and eventually winning it but fell short for the challenge as Sinner closed the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6-8), 6-3.
Remarkably, this was the first occasion in Djokovic’s whole Grand Slam career of over 400 matches where he couldn’t earn a single break point. However, it should not come as a surprise as Sinner has beaten Djokovic twice in the successive weeks last November during the ATP Finals and Davis Cup. As the 22-year-old has snaps, Djokovic’s 33-match winning streak in Melbourne, Becker believes it is only a matter of time before he gets his maiden win at a Grand Slam.
“I’m not surprised that Jannik Sinner won, but I am surprised by the way he did it. He actually had to win in the third set,” the former World No.1 told Eurosport.
“The likeable South Tyrolean was already knocking on the door last year and is now growing up. He kept cool and served well right to the end. The fact that Novak Djokovic – the best return player of all time – didn’t have a single break point against Sinner is the story of the match.”
The Australian Open is one Grand Slam where Djokovic has a massive fan-base because of the big Serbian population in the Melbourne and the “Nole” chants never sopped though out the whole tournament.
But they were effectively muted by the silent Italian final and Sky Sports commentator and former British No 1 lauded Sinner for staying committed to his game plan during the high volume clash.
“The atmosphere in Garden Square was slightly muted when Sinner won because there’s a lot of Djokovic fans,” she said.
“They had their flags, and were ready to celebrate and make it more of the same of what they saw last year, but Sinner crashed the party totally. He was outstanding from start to finish. I love that he didn’t get disappointed after having the match point in the third set.
“He just kept committed to the gameplan even more. It feels like we’ve felt this result coming; from the last few months and end of last year especially. But to do it in a best of five match at a Grand Slam with so many people who didn’t think that he could do it based on his performance at Wimbledon last year, just phenomenal.
“Such a nice guy as well. So easy to chat to; he’s always got such a good energy around him and his team. I’m sure there are a lot of happy people in the locker who’ve been waiting for this to happen for him.
“He’s a muted guy, and to finish with a forehand winner would be exactly how he planned it in his head. I wouldn’t expect anything else from him; I wouldn’t expect to see him fall to the floor, and should he win on Sunday, I’m sure we’ll see more of the same. A cheeky hands up, one fist pump maybe, but it would be weird if we saw him fall to his knees and start crying. I’d be confused.”