Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, has confessed that he was taken aback by his performance in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. He made 54 unforced errors, which contributed to his loss in four sets against Jannik Sinner on Friday at Melbourne Park.
For 2195 days, the Serbian had remained undefeated in the tournament. However, he faced a tough challenge from the Italian and lost two sets in just 74 minutes. He expressed his disappointment, stating that he was shocked by his poor performance. He considered it to be one of his worst matches in a grand slam, or at least one that he could remember.
The winner of 10 Australian Open titles praised his opponent’s flawless performance. Despite a three-hour, 22-minute long match, Djokovic was unable to create a single break point opportunity. He commented that a strong serve and lack of break points can affect the mindset of one’s opponent, allowing for more pressure on their service games. In this case, it worked in his favor and allowed him to play with more freedom on his own service games.
The individual, aged 36, expressed that he did not perform as well as he would have liked during the competition and is uncertain if he will be able to reach his previous level of play. He acknowledged that this tournament did not meet his personal standards and expectations, but does not believe it marks the end of his career, something some have speculated.
The player expressed that the match was challenging, especially after he was unable to capitalize on a match point during the third set tie-break. He mentioned that it was mentally tough to come so close and then have a long way to go. However, he also reflected on the fact that he was leading two sets to one, which helped him stay positive.
The 22-year-old stated that he noticed his opponent was not playing well early on in the match. However, he also acknowledged that Djokovic has the ability to improve and make dangerous returns at any moment. “I recognized, particularly in the first sets, that he wasn’t playing at his best, but I made sure to maintain a high level of intensity and took advantage of the opportunity,” said Sinner.
Even though Sinner achieved his most important win yet, he didn’t show much emotion after the game. He stated, “These types of feelings are beyond your control.” He was aware that it was the semi-final and winning this match didn’t guarantee winning the entire tournament. He is anticipating Sunday’s match and is curious to see what will happen.
On Friday, Djokovic experienced his first loss in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, which will lead to a slight change in his Sunday plans in Melbourne. Despite this, he remains optimistic for future tournaments such as other grand slams and the Olympics. He recognizes that it is only the start of the season and he is not accustomed to this feeling.
