Jannik Sinner has pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tennis history by defeating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Friday. The 22-year-old Italian ended the 10-time champion’s unbeaten run in the last four at Melbourne Park and became the youngest men’s finalist at a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.
Sinner played with fearless aggression and remarkable composure, breaking Djokovic’s serve twice in each of the first two sets and saving a match point in the third. He finally sealed the victory with a forehand winner after three hours and 15 minutes of intense battle, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
Djokovic, who had not lost a match at the Australian Open since 2018 and was on a 33-match winning streak at the tournament, was visibly frustrated and struggled to find his rhythm against Sinner’s relentless pressure. The world number one made 56 unforced errors and only converted three of his 13 breakpoints. He also received a warning for smashing his racket in the second set.
Sinner, who is ranked 13th in the world and was playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal, showed no signs of nerves or fatigue, despite having played a five-set thriller against Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. He hit 40 winners and 30 unforced errors, and he won 75% of his first-serve points. He also displayed remarkable mental strength, bouncing back from losing the third set in a tiebreak and closing out the match with confidence.
A new star is born
Sinner’s stunning performance against Djokovic has confirmed his status as one of the brightest stars of the new generation of tennis players. The Italian, who started playing tennis at the age of seven, has risen rapidly in the rankings since turning professional in 2018. He won his first ATP title at the Sofia Open in 2020 and reached the French Open quarterfinals and the Miami Open semifinals in 2023.
Sinner has also been impressed with his humble and hard-working attitude and his willingness to learn from his experienced coach, Riccardo Piatti, who has worked with the likes of Ivan Ljubicic, Richard Gasquet, and Milos Raonic. Sinner has said that his goal is to improve every day and to enjoy playing tennis.
Sinner has also earned the respect and admiration of his peers, who have praised his talent and potential. Djokovic, who had never faced Sinner before, said after the match that he was impressed by Sinner’s game and personality and that he deserved to win. Nadal, who had beaten Sinner in their previous three meetings, said that Sinner was a “very, very young talent” with a “great future.”. Roger Federer, who practiced with Sinner in Dubai before the Australian Open, said that Sinner was “super nice” and had a “wonderful technique.”.
A tough challenge awaits
Sinner will face either third-seeded Daniil Medvedev or sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday, in what will be his first encounter with either player. Both Medvedev and Zverev are also seeking their maiden Grand Slam title and have been in excellent form in the tournament.
Medvedev, who is the reigning US Open champion and the ATP Finals winner, has won 20 consecutive matches, including 12 against top-10 players. He has dropped only one set in his run to the semifinals and has beaten Nick Kyrgios, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Stefanos Tsitsipas along the way.
Zverev, who is the 2020 US Open runner-up and the 2018 ATP Finals winner, has also dropped only one set in his run to the semifinals and has beaten John Isner, Denis Shapovalov, and Matteo Berrettini along the way.
Both Medvedev and Zverev have the advantage of experience and height over Sinner and will pose a tough challenge for the young Italian. However, Sinner has shown that he is not afraid of anyone and that he has the game and the mentality to compete with the best. He will surely give his best effort and try to make history by becoming the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam title.
