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Jannik Sinner downed defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3 at the Australian Open on Friday to hand the top seed his first defeat at Melbourne Park in six years and power into his maiden Grand Slam final.
Sinner provided a master class in tennis in the opening two sets to put the wheels in motion for Djokovic’s only defeat in the semi-finals of his favourite major.
It also made the youngster the only Italian player to reach an Australian Open singles final.
In marking the arrival of a new generation of tennis stars, the Melbourne title clash on Sunday will also be the first since 2005 not to feature Djokovic or fellow “Big Three” members Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
“It was a very, very tough match,” said Sinner, who did not face a single break point in the match.
“I started out very well, for two sets I felt that he was not feeling too good on court so I just tried to keep pushing and then in the third set I had match point and I missed the forehand, but you know, this is tennis.
“I just tried to be ready for the next set, which I started off really well, and of course the atmosphere was so great. It’s so great to play here.”
Fourth seed Sinner stunned Djokovic twice in three matches at the end of last season and he made a rollicking start on Rod Laver Arena by targeting his 36-year-old opponent’s shaky serve and error-prone backhand to comfortably win the opening set.
Djokovic had not lost at his favourite stomping ground since the 2018 edition when he crashed to South Korean Chung Hyeon and there were worrying signs for the 10-times Melbourne champion as the 22-year-old Sinner eased through the next set following a double break.
“He outplayed me completely today,” Djokovic said. “I was shocked with my level in a bad way. Not much that I was doing right… This is one of the worst Grand Slam matches I have played, that I can remember.
“At the same time, credit to him for doing everything better than me in every aspect of the game.”