© APA/AFP/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA
Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic and is in a major final for the first time. Daniil Medvedev is the opponent there – just like in the Wiener Stadthalle.
If Novak Djokovic The last time he lost a game was at the Australian Open, war Dominic Thiem number five in the world, Roger Federer the eventual winner and a 17 year old – former Italian ski champion – named Jannik Sinner played his first future tournament in Sharm El Sheikh.
It was in January 2018 when the Serb lost in three sets against the Korean Chung Hyeon in the round of 16 in Melbourne. Thereafter Djokovic won 33 games in a row and his favorite tournament four more times – with a total of ten successes he is the record champion of the Australian Open.
In 2024 the question must be asked whether it is in the Tennis world about the changing of the guard of the 36-year-old. In the semifinals, Djokovic was defeated by Jannik Sinner in four sets 1:6, 2:6, 7:6 (6), 3:6 dispatched. After 3:22 hours, the South Tyrolean reached a final at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. He plays there Sunday at 9:30 a.m. against Daniil Medvedev for the first Italian tournament victory at the Australian Open. It is that first final in Melbourne since 2005, and that neither Federer, Nadal or Djokovic participate.
Sinner’s victory may not have been a surprise after all
If you look at the most recent duels, Sinner’s victory against the big dominator was no surprise. The 22-year-old from Sexten (three kilometers as the crow flies from the Austrian border) sat down at both the ATP finals as well as in the Davis Cup finals.
Djokovic admitted: “That was one of mine worst Grand Slam matches, that I have ever played. To be honest, I didn’t play well throughout the tournament. Jannik completely dominated me and completely deserved to win.”
Djokovic gave Sinner a lot of good tips
Sinner lost to the superstar, who was 14 years older, in the semifinals at Wimbledon last year. “I learned a lot from it,” he said in the winner’s interview. Djokovic was even involved in Sinner’s steep career. “After a defeat against him, we trained together and my coach asked him what I should do better. He gave me good tips.” Maybe too good, Djokovic probably thought on Friday.
The final opponent
Sinner notices it on Sunday Daniil Medwedew to do. The Russian was apparently hopelessly behind 5:7 and 3:6 against the German Alexander Zverev, but won the next two sets in the tiebreak 7:6 and the fifth 6:3. “I was lost in the first two sets and didn’t know what to do,” said Medvedev after his fifth final in a Grand Slam tournament.
Austrian tennis fans will also remember the Wiener Stadthalle on Sunday, where the two played in the final in October 2023. At that time, Jannik Sinner scored 7:6 (7), 6:4, 6:3. It was the Italian’s last tournament victory to date.
2024-01-26 16:29:42
#Sinner #Melbourne #final #beginning #era
