Novak Djokovic Humble in Defeat: ‘Jannik Sinner Outplayed Me’

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic is searching for his first title of the season in Indian Wells, returning to the desert for the primary time in 5 years. Novak talked about his Australian Open marketing campaign and the semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner, giving extra particulars about his preparations for 2024 and praising his conqueror.

Djokovic wrote historical past books once more in 2023, successful three Main titles from 4 finals and terminating the GOAT race. Additionally, he lifted seven ATP trophies and wrapped up the season because the year-end no. 1 participant for the eighth time.

Novak wanted extra time than typical to recharge his batteries and put together for the brand new season. He struggled with a wrist harm on the United Cup and didn’t discover his A-game in Melbourne exterior rounds three and 4.

Djokovic reached the semi-final however couldn’t do a lot towards an impressed Sinner, who dethroned a ten-time champion 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in three hours and 22 minutes.

Jannik toppled Novak two instances inside ten days within the closing phases of 2023. He used that momentum in Melbourne and dominated the world’s greatest participant en path to his first Main closing. Djokovic suffered his first loss after passing the quarter-final stage in Melbourne, saving a match level within the third set however shedding serve as soon as within the fourth, pushing the younger gun excessive.

Jannik delivered Novak’s first Australian Open loss since 2018, enjoying rock-solid tennis from begin to end and celebrating his career-best victory. Djokovic prevailed over Taylor Fritz in three hours and 45 minutes within the quarter-final and had nothing left within the tank for such a robust rival, shedding the opening two units very quickly and failing to get well.

The Italian had the higher hand in each section, serving properly and leaving the Serb far behind within the shortest vary as much as 4 strokes. Sinner tamed his strokes properly and welcomed over 50 unforced errors from Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic praised Jannik Sinner and his Australian Open efficiency.

Novak might solely do some within the return video games, failing to create a break likelihood for the primary time in accomplished matches at Majors. The Serb performed towards 11 break factors, getting damaged 5 instances and ending his marketing campaign within the semi-final.

Jannik was off to a greater begin, giving him a contemplating enhance. Sinner broke Djokovic within the second recreation of the match with a forehand drive-volley winner and fired a service winner a couple of minutes later for 3-0. With nothing working his method, Novak performed towards one other break likelihood within the fourth recreation.

He saved it with a forehand winner and held, bringing his title to the scoreboard. Jannik served properly within the fifth recreation and pushed sturdy on the return within the subsequent one, welcoming Novak’s backhand error and forging an enormous 5-1 benefit.

The younger gun produced one other high-quality maintain in recreation seven, wrapping up the opener in 35 minutes and gaining a lift. Sinner stood as the one participant within the second set, serving properly and clinching two breaks regardless of Djokovic touchdown in 75% of the primary serve.

Novak served at 1-1 and sprayed a backhand error, shedding serve and lengthening his poor run. Jannik cemented the lead with a robust serve in recreation 4, doing all the things proper and controlling the scoreboard. Sinner moved 4-2 up and chased one other break in recreation seven.

It got here after Djokovic’s forehand error, with the Italian opening a 5-2 hole and serving for the set in recreation eight. Jannik held after deuce, transferring 6-1, 6-2 in entrance in 73 minutes and searching good to seal the deal in set quantity three.

Novak denied a break level within the early stage of the third set and recovered his recreation behind the preliminary shot. Jannik served properly in video games eight and ten, and Novak moved 6-5 up after deuces in recreation 11.

Sinner launched a tie break with a smash winner in recreation 12, maintaining the stress on the opposite facet. Novak made a robust begin and opened a 4-2 lead. Jannik stayed composed, erasing the deficit and touchdown a forehand winner for 5-4, standing two factors away from the win.

The Serb locked them at 5-5 with a lob winner earlier than the Italian created a match level with an unreturned serve. Djokovic saved it with a compelled error and claimed three straight factors, stealing the breaker 8-6 and maintaining himself in competition after two and a half hours.

Trusting his photographs, Sinner made a contemporary begin within the fourth set and created two break probabilities within the second recreation. Djokovic denied them and held, avoiding an early setback. Nonetheless, Novak wasted a 40-0 lead within the fourth recreation, dealing with a break level after a double fault and putting a backhand lengthy to expertise the essential break and fall 3-1 behind.

Jannik overcame uncommon deuces within the fifth recreation, confirming the lead and transferring nearer to the end line.

Djokovic lowered the deficit to 4-2 earlier than Sinner held at love with a serve & volley a couple of minutes later, forcing world no.

1 to serve to remain within the match. Novak produced a high-quality maintain in recreation eight, decreasing the deficit and hoping for his first return probabilities at 3-5. The Serb moved 30-15 up earlier than the Italian fired two service winners, incomes his second match level.

Jannik sealed the take care of a forehand down the road winner, dethroning the Melbourne king and reserving a spot in his first Main closing. “I achieved unbelievable data in 2023. It took loads from me, and I didn’t have time to relaxation and put together for the beginning of 2024 as I’d usually.

I didn’t play my greatest tennis in Australia, however it’s what it’s. Jannik was much better than me within the semi-final,” Novak Djokovic mentioned.