‘One of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve played’: Novak sour on shock Aus Open exit

Novak Djokovic says his Australian Open loss to Jannik Sinner - his first at Melbourne Park in 2195 days - was one of the worst Grand Slam matches he’s ever played.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic attends a press conference after losing against Italy's Jannik Sinner in their men's singles semi-final match on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2024. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Novak Djokovic has stamped his semi-final shocker as “one of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve ever played” as an invincible streak spanning 33 matches and 2195 days at the Australian Open was snapped by Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic’s savage self-assessment came after the world No.1 failed to manufacture a single break point opportunity for the first time in his golden career that has delivered 24 Grand Slam crowns.

For the first time since 2005 – when Lleyton Hewitt lost to Marat Safin – the Australian Open final will not feature at least one of Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.

Sinner joined Nadal and Federer as just the third player to defeat Djokovic at Grand Slam, ATP Finals and Davis Cup level.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic said his semi-final match was one of the worst games he’d played at a Slam. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP.

The Italian has scored his trifecta of wins all in the past nine weeks.

“He outplayed me completely,” Djokovic said after the 6-1 6-2 6-7 6-3 smashing on Rod Laver Arena.

“This is one of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve ever played. The whole tournament I haven’t really played close to my best.

“My match against (Adrian) Mannarino was great, but most of the matches I was not playing up to par.

“I didn’t feel really myself on the court during this tournament.

“That stat (zero break points) says a lot.”

Sinner, 22, agreed the 10-time Australian Open king was a shadow of his usual self.

“The first two sets I saw that he was not hitting the ball as he used to,” Sinner said.

“He was also not moving that well, and then I think he was also not that focused like we’re used to seeing him.”

Djokovic’s perfect 20-0 record in Australian Open semi-finals and finals combined – recorded against 12 rivals from 2008-2023 – has ended as Sinner advanced to his first Grand Slam decider.

Djokovic, 36, will ‘only’ bank $990,000 in prizemoney, whereas Sinner now has a shot at the $3.15 million champion’s cheque.

Jannik Sinner celebrates after victory against Novak Djokovic at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Martin Keep/AFP

THE KING IS DEAD AT MELBOURNE PARK, LONG LIVE THE KING?

It might be the defeat that plants the seed of doubt in Novak Djokovic’s determination to play on for as long as possible.

Dethroned on his own dancefloor, he has also been privately doing it tough as Djokovic the dad.

He has been away from wife Jelena and kids Stefan (nine years old) and Tara (six) for five weeks, missing his daughter’s first tooth falling out.

Djokovic has spent the past week repeatedly dousing talk of retirement. But he will fly home acutely aware that he will turn 37 before the next Grand Slam – Roland Garros – crowns a 2024 champion.

And if he can no longer get it done on Rod Laver Arena then what must Djokovic be thinking as he boards his flight home?

Asked on the eve of the tournament who he considered his biggest threat was, Djokovic answered: “Myself always first”.

He was wrong. This semi-final smashing was not about the sins of Novak. Rather it was the significance of Generation Next officially becoming his biggest threat.

It was finally doing what it had often flirted with, but ultimately failed to do for more than a decade.

In last year’s Wimbledon final it was 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who defeated Djokovic, and in this year’s Australian Open semi-final it was 22-year-old Jannik Sinner who destroyed the 10-time local champion.

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic greet each other at the net after the former’s win in the Australian Open semi final. Picture: Martin Keep/ AFP.

The 6-1 6-2 6-7 6-3 scoreline would’ve been barely believable before the match.

But Sinner has now saluted in three out of his past four matches against the Greatest of All Time.

Djokovic entered this blockbuster 10-0 in semi-finals and 10-0 in finals. It was close to 2200 days since he had been defeated in Melbourne. He was on a 33-match winning streak inside RLA.

But this was Djokovic’s worst start to a match at Melbourne Park since being thrashed 6-0 6-2 6-1 by Marat Safin in his Australian Open debut way back in 2005.

Djokovic lost his first two matches here against players ranked in the top-five here – that match (Safin was No.4) and a fourth-round battle against Roger Federer (No.1) in 2007.

He then won 17 consecutive matches against top-five players … another streak stopped by Sinner.

Can Australia claim the Italian?

He is coached by Aussie Darren Cahill, he was warmed up by Cruz Hewitt on Friday and he had Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams in his box earlier in the week.

When Djokovic strutted on to his favourite court in the world you wondered whether it had been relocated to Belgrade.

More than 20 Serbian flags were proudly waved in the stands.

But it took just 12 minutes to see that Jannik was no Joker. Sinner shot to a 3-0 lead and the No.4 seed’s sterling start also helped soften the pro-Novak crowd.

Djokovic looked uncomfortable sweating in the sun – he stood in the shade for as long as possible between points – and the scoreboard swiftly became uneasy for him.

After 35 minutes it was Sinner 6-1. When Djokovic held in the first game of the second set a “Novak! Novak! Novak!” chant rang around the stadium.

But Sinner would not be silenced.

The Italian national skiing champion (Sinner spent his junior years on the slopes) then held serve, broke serve and held serve again … to love.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic acknowledges applauds by the supporters as he walks off the court after losing against Italy's Jannik Sinner. Picture: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP.

Suddenly it was 61 3-1, and Sinner’s next service game was another hold to love.

He then got a look at a second break, but when that point was saved Djokovic called on the crowd to shake the stands.

That they did.

The place erupted. But the atmosphere was artificial.

When play resumed, Djokovic dobbed a lob too far and Sinner got another look at his shaky serve, which he snagged.

With the sun in Djokovic’s eyes, he could not get a look at Sinner’s serve. He failed to generate a break point for the 3hr 22min-long contest.

Sinner closed the second set to continue his perfect record of 17-0 this tournament. The aura of Djokovic was fading … fast.

The mood in the stands started to move from ‘When will it click for Novak?’ to ‘Will it click for Novak?’

Sinner stumbled on a match point in the third-set tie-break, but it never truly looked like Novak was back.

Sinner’s success was significant. He has become the first Italian to reach an Australian Open singles final, and the fifth Italian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final.

At 22 he is the youngest player to reach the AO final since Djokovic won his first of 10 crowns in 2008.

And for the first time since Stan Wawrinka in 2014 someone outside ‘The Big Three’ (Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal) will become the prince of Melbourne Park.

Will King Djokovic ever reclaim his crown?

Originally published as ‘One of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve played’: Novak sour on shock Aus Open exit