Although Jannik Sinner won Novak Djokovic in 2 matches at the end of 2023, compared to the ATP Finals and Davis Cup, playing only 3 sets, the victory over the world's No. 1 tennis player in the semi-finals of the 2024 Australian Open really shocked the coaching lane.
Djokovic has not lost in 33 Grand Slam matches of the first Grand Slam of the year of the tennis season - which has lasted for 6 years. During that time, he won the championship 4 times (in 2022, he did not compete due to being deported for not being vaccinated against COVID-19).
But that ended on January 26, because the tennis player was 14 years younger than him.
Although he said that Sinner played better than him, what stunned Djokovic the most was his performance. He described it as one of his worst performances in more than 400 Grand Slam appearances.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he still has more hopes for success in the rest of the season and warned that experts may want to say that it is time to end his glorious career.
He played completely better than me today, the Serbian said of the 6-1 6-2 6-7 (6) 6-3 loss to Sinner.
I was shocked by my poor form. I couldn't do much in the first two sets. I guess this is one of the worst Grand Slams I have ever played. At least I remember.
To be honest, throughout the tournament, I didn't really play at my best. I didn't really feel like I was on the court throughout the tournament. Of course, it can be said that the semi-final is a great result, but I always expect the highest in myself".
Those expectations come from the results Nole has achieved on the green pitch of Melbourne, where he has won 10 titles and won 94 of his 103 games in 19 of his tournaments.
This was Djokovic's first loss in 11 semi-final matches in Melbourne.
Djokovic said: I definitely have a lot to be proud of what I have achieved here.
One day, that streak will end. That will happen and at least I have given my all in the circumstances where I have not played well.
I just hope that I will have the opportunity to return to play at least once and experience many emotions once again".
The 2024 Australian Open final on Sunday will be the first since 2005 without Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal - the greatest players in the golden age of men's tennis.
With Federer retiring and Nadal also approaching that day, Djokovic was asked whether he was starting to feel the age of 36.
Lets see what happens in the rest of the season, he added.
"I still have high hopes for other tournaments, Olympics and any tournament I will participate in. This tournament does not meet my standards but that does not necessarily mean it is the beginning of the end."
Sinner will meet the winner of the match between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev.
There is an astonishing coincidence in Djokovic's last two Grand Slam defeats.
On 16 July 2023, Carlos Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, ending his 2,195 days unbeaten in the competition.
On January 26, 2024, Jannik Sinner beat Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals, ending 2,195 Nole unbeaten in the tournament.
