Djokovic-Sinner is a match valid for the Australian Open 2024 semifinals: schedule, news, analysis, predictions, live TV and streaming.
There’s the winningest tennis player ever, Novak Djokovic, again between Jannik Sinner and his first Slam final. As at Wimbledon last summer, the Italian in the semifinals will have to overcome the toughest obstacle, a Martian who hasn’t even lost in Melbourne for six years. And who still has plenty of hunger.
The last loss he suffered in the Australian major remains the one to South Korean Chung, who surprisingly eliminated the Belgrade native in the 2018 edition, limited by an elbow problem. Since then, Nole each time he has taken part in the Happy Slam has not left even crumbs to his opponents on the court, grinding out victory after victory, collecting title after title. This hints at the magnitude of the feat Sinner could accomplish if he succeeds: the South Tyrolean, now stable among the world’s top four, can write another page in Italian tennis, two months after his Davis Cup triumph. No smears for him in Australia so far: none of the other semifinalists has managed not to lose a single set. Instead, the sectional box has remained immaculate in the matches featuring the 22-year-old from San Candido, who has conceded nothing to the likes of van de Zandschulp, de Jong, Baez, Khachanov and Rublev. Yes, even the world No. 5 Russian had to bow to Jannik, complete with a resounding comeback in the second set (6-4 7-5 6-3).
Sinner not starting out beaten
The same cannot be said of Djokovic, who did not give his usual feeling of omnipotence. The Serb beat only Etcheverry and Mannarino in three sets, while Prizmic, Popyrin and Fritz were able to avoid the “overcoat. “
Blame the cold, which affected him in the first two matches, while with the American he suffered only in the opening two sets (7-6 4-6 6-2 6-3). This will be the seventh confrontation between Sinner and Djokovic: Nole leads 4-2 but it must be said that Italy’s number one has won two of the last three previous matches, both in November 2023 between Turin (Finals) and Malaga (Davis). The memory of those three match points cancelled in the Davis Cup match is still vivid, with Sinner able to rise from the ashes when it seemed over. Jannik will have to take a cue from that incredible show of strength, proving he has all the cards to repeat and make history again.
Djokovic-Sinner: the prediction
Many consider this an early final. The timeless champion against a player who seems to have no weaknesses for the past three months. Sinner doesn’t start favored-and couldn’t be otherwise-but he certainly has a few more chances than at Wimbledon 2023. The South Tyrolean now knows how to beat Djokovic and will be able to stand up to him, trying to capitalize on the improvements of recent times, from his serve to the way he hits the ball. The Italian should win at least one set in a match that could even end in the fifth. We expect at least one tie break.