Sinner beats Djokovic: Australian Open semifinal – as it happened
All the updates as Sinner beat Djokovic in the first men’s singles semifinal of the 2024 Australian Open.
This live page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in four sets in the first semifinal of the 2024 Australian Open on Friday, January 26:
This live page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in four sets in the first semifinal of the 2024 Australian Open on Friday, January 26:
- Sinner stuns Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final and end the Serbian’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.
- The Italian raced into a commanding two-set lead against the 10-time Australian Open champion, but Djokovic fought back and survived a match point to win the third in a tiebreak. However, Sinner regained the upper hand in the fourth set to close out the match.
- Fourth-ranked and seeded Sinner reaches his first Grand Slam final.
- Sinner will play either Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday.
It’s a wrap
What a result that was!
Djokovic’s long reign down under comes to an abrupt close at the hands of a 22-year-old who surely has the world at his feet.
Sinner showed his class today in the opening two sets, and despite losing a closely contested third set, bounced back admirably to see off the Djokovic challenge.
Djokovic was uncharacteristically out of sorts today, committing 54 unforced errors while only winning 67 percent of his first serve points.
Sinner will now await the winner between Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, who will be shortly out for the men’s singles second semifinal.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the semifinal, and on behalf of Al Jazeera Sport, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.
Jannik Sinner is the 1st player to beat Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in 6 years.
2195 days.
A remarkable streak, ended at the hands of a truly remarkable player.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 26, 2024
‘I was looking forward to this match’
A visibly pleased Sinner shared his thoughts post-match: “It was a very tough match. I started off really well. He missed for [first] two sets and I felt like he wasn’t feeling that great on [the] court.”
“In the third set I missed that forehand in the tiebreak [to lose the set]. I tried to be ready for the next set. The atmosphere was so great to play here,” he adds.
“I was looking forward to this match. It is always nice to have this kind of player to learn from. I lost last year in the semis in Wimbledon so I learned a lot from that.”
“I don’t know. Ask him [when asked how to beat Djokovic]. I think we play [a] very similar [style of tennis]. You have to try and return as many balls as possible. He is an incredible server. Just tried to push and move him around. I hope to play him again.”
Jannik Sinner just did the impossible! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9yMlg04zy6
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 26, 2024
Sinner reaches new heights
FIRST GRAND SLAM FINAL!! #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/OUV9Pd3IJI
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2024
Sinner wins!
Sinner delivers a wide serve down right.
He is able to finish off with a forehand down the left to make it 15-all.
Sinner completes a first double fault to make it 15-30.
He recovers with a brilliant ace down the right side which leaves his opponent unmoved.
Another wide serve is too hot for Djokovic to handle as Sinner earns a second match point.
Sinner wraps up the match with a forehand winner down the right side to officially dethrone the reigning Australian Open champion.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6 Sinner
Djokovic holds serve
Sinner goes long to give Djokovic a 15-0 lead.
Djokovic delivers a pin-point ace down the middle which is just too good for his opponent.
He follows up with a serve-and-volley down the right side which Sinner doesn’t have any chance of retrieving.
He does it once more to round out the game.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-5 Sinner
Sinner a game away from the final
Sinner goes up 30-0 relatively quickly.
He makes that 40-0 as he lands a forehand which Djokovic is unable to return.
Sinner completes a classic serve-and-volley to wrap up the seventh game of the set in his favour.
He is now a game away from a place in the 2024 Australian Open men’s singles final.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 2-5 Sinner
Djokovic holds to stay alive
Djokovic will need to win this game and then break Sinner to get back into this match.
He gets the ball rolling after Sinner uncharacteristically misses a volley down the left side.
Djokovic returns the favour with an errant hit into the net on the left side to make it 15-all.
The Serbian unleashes a 124mph (200km/h) ace to make it 30-15.
That lead soon becomes 40-15, before ending with a backhand into the open court on the left side.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 2-4 Sinner
Sinner holds to extend lead
A wicked cross-court forehand from Sinner to the left side proves too much for Djokovic.
But Djokovic is able to send it back to deuce after getting Sinner to crash one into the net.
Djokovic does well to get off a deep backhand lob, but Sinner is given ample time to put him away with an overhead smash down the left side to hold advantage.
Sinner successfully holds with a 4-1 lead after Djokovic sends his return wide.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-4 Sinner
Game sent to deuce
Sinner lands a cross-court forehand past Djokovic on the left side to take the early lead.
The Serbian tries to place a backhand drop shot, but instead lands it inside his own half of the court to make it 30-love.
Djokovic rallies back with a powerful forehand which Sinner is unable to get away with his backhand.
He continues the fight back by getting his opponent to overhit a backhand lob to make it 30-all.
Djokovic goes long to make it 40-30, but the game is sent to deuce after an unforced error into the net by the Italian.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-3 Sinner
Sinner breaks to take 3-1 lead
Djokovic double-faults at an inopportune time to give a valuable break point to his opponent.
The Serbian sends his return long to give Sinner a decisive 3-1 lead in the fourth.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-3 Sinner
Fourth game goes to deuce
Sinner goes long on his baseline return to make it 15-0.
The Italian clips the net once more to give Djokovic a 30-0 lead.
Sinner goes well wide on the left to make it 40-love.
But Sinner produces a magical sliding cross-court flick to the left side which just evades the grasp of Djokovic.
Djokovic sends one low into the net on his backhand to make it 40-30.
The game is sent to deuce with a sloppy forehand by Djokovic into the net.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-2 Sinner
Sinner holds successfully
The game is tied up 15-all.
Sinner uses his wide serve to good effect to make it 30-15.
Djokovic finds the net once more on his backhand to take the score to 40-15.
The Serbian delivers a well-placed backhand drop shot to make it 40-30.
Sinner finishes off the game with a cross-court forehand into the open court on the right side to go up 2-1 in the fourth.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-2 Sinner
Djokovic holds to square set
Djokovic holds advantage after Sinner’s unforced error into the net.
He holds serve after his opponent goes wide down the right side.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 1-1 Sinner
Game taken to deuce
Djokovic sends his backhand into top of the net but doesn’t get a favourable bounce.
Sinner attacks Djokovic’s drop shot before landing a sliding backhand winner down the right side to make it 0-30.
Djokovic delivers a 114mph (183km/h) ace to make it 15-30.
Djokovic overhits his forehand down the right side to give Sinner a valuable double break chance.
The Serbian wrests it back to 30-40, before sending it to deuce with a 123mph (198 km/h) ace.
Sinner takes advantage after Djokovic sends his return into the net.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 0-1 Sinner
Sinner wins opening game of fourth
Sinner jumps to a 30-0 lead after Djokovic’s attempted drop shot finds the net.
The Serbian follows with an unforced error into the net to make it 40-love.
Djokovic lands the perfect return to Sinner’s kick serve, which the lanky Italian is unable to get to.
Sinner closes out the opening game of the fourth set with a 123mph (198km/h) ace.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 0-1 Sinner
Marked improvement from Djokovic in third
Djokovic’s first serve improved greatly to 79 percent, while committing 13 unforced errors in comparison to Sinner’s 15.
Sinner will feel mighty disappointed after being set up beautifully to take the match in straight sets.
You can never rule out Djokovic when he is involved in the fray.
Meanwhile, the Serbian chose to have a change of outfit during the set break, so he looks refreshed and ready for what will be a long afternoon if he is to reach an 11th Australian Open final.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) Sinner
Djokovic takes third set
Sinner’s attempted cross-court goes wide down the left side to give Djokovic set point, and a chance to keep his hopes alive of winning a 25th major.
Sinner sends his baseline return long to hand Djokovic the third set.
This is truly a remarkable turnaround as Djokovic looked well out of sorts in the opening two sets.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6) Sinner
Tiebreak at 6-6
Sinner rallies back to make it 4-3.
Djokovic goes wide down the right side to send the tiebreak to 4-4.
Sinner goes to 5-4 with a commanding forehand into the open court on the left side.
Djokovic pulls off a wonderful backhand return, before lobbing a deep one over the Italian which lands safely, sending the score to 5-5.
Sinner earns match point at 6-5, but the tiebreak is squared up at 6-6 once more thanks to Sinner’s unforced error.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 6-6 (6-6) Sinner
Djokovic up 4-2 in tiebreak
Djokovic earns a 2-0 lead early in the tiebreak.
But the Serbian’s defensive lob sails just over the baseline to make it 2-1.
Djokovic gets away an off-balance forehand which goes long, sending the tiebreak to 2-2.
Djokovic fights back with a powerful forehand down the left side to make it 3-2.
Sinner shows some nerves as he goes down 4-2 after sending a forehand shot into the net.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 6-6 (4-2) Sinner
Sinner forces tiebreak
Djokovic crashes his backhand into the net to give Sinner the early lead.
Sinner goes long down the right side to square it at 15-all.
The Serbian gets caught out by a testing kick serve to make it 30-15.
Sinner delivers a 123mph (198km/h) ace to make it 40-15.
He finishes it off with an overhead smash down the left side to send the third set to a tiebreak.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 6-6 Sinner
Djokovic holds to regain lead
Djokovic unleashes a blistering 125mph (201km/h) ace which gives him advantage.
He gets a fortuitous bounce off the top of the net, with Sinner unable to get enough on it as the ball crashes low into the net.
Sinner will now serve to force this third set to a tiebreak.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 6-5 Sinner
Players return to commence play
It looks like the fan has been tended to and the match can resume.
The game is at a crucial point given the deuce situation.
Sinner has lost some momentum after taking a two-set lead, and Djokovic seems to have roared back to life in this third set.
But who will benefit from the temporary stoppage in play? We’ll soon find out.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 5-5 Sinner
Match paused
Sinner ends up going long on his backhand to give Djokovic advantage.
But the game is sent back to deuce after overhitting a deep baseline return.
Djokovic breaks from play and looks up at the crowd. Reports suggest that someone may have fainted in the stands.
The players pause temporarily as the fan gets tended to.
The security personnel asks the players to have a breather as we wait for further updates.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 5-5 Sinner
Crucial game goes to deuce
Djokovic’s 16th forehand error gifts Sinner the early lead.
Sinner does well to get to a drop shot, but puts too much on it as the ball lands beyond the baseline on the right side.
But Djokovic rolls back the years with a forehand winner down the left side to make it 30-15.
Sinner makes it 30-all with a wicked forehand just left of centre which has his opponent stopped in their tracks.
Djokovic lands the perfect forehand down the line on the left side to send the score to 40-30.
Djokovic’s baseline return goes long to send the game to deuce.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 5-5 Sinner
Sinner holds to tie up set
Sinner crashes his forehand into the net to make it 0-15.
The Italian delivers a wide serve down the right side, before sending him the other way, forcing him into the error to make it 15-all.
He follows with a similar sequence in the next point to jump to a 30-15 lead.
Another wide one is sent back long by Djokovic to earn a 40-15 lead.
Djokovic is unable to make any returns at the moment as Sinner squares the set once more.
Djokovic 1-6, 2-6, 5-5 Sinner