World number 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic is contemplating a tennis hiatus after Italy’s Jannik Sinner halted his winning streak at the Australian Open on Friday.
In the tournament’s semi-final, Sinner thwarted Djokovic’s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title, marking the first time Djokovic lost at Melbourne Park in six years. This marked a significant upset for Djokovic, who had never lost a semi-final at Melbourne Park and maintained an undefeated record in the Australian Open since 2018. The match against Sinner saw Djokovic making 29 unforced errors, a departure from his usual performance, allowing Sinner to secure a 3-0 lead.
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The match encountered a pause when a spectator in the crowd sustained an injury, requiring medical attention. This interruption disrupted the game’s flow. Djokovic faced challenges with his serves throughout the match, enduring constant pressure even after securing a match point with a 7-6 victory in the third set. Ultimately, Sinner clinched a 3-1 victory, triumphing 6-3 in the final set. This marked the conclusion of Djokovic’s era of dominance in the Australian Open.
Djokovic, expressing disappointment, labelled his performance against Sinner as his “worst ever display in Grand Slams,” failing to make a single break point throughout the game. He shared in interview:
“I want my thoughts to settle — when I calm down, I will move on and see what tournaments I will play. I made a commitment to myself that I will give it my all this year, with the priority being Slams and the Olympics. We’ll see whether something will change, in this stage of my life and my career some surprising decisions are maybe more expected compared to twenty years ago.”
Despite Djokovic’s successful run with three Grand Slam victories in 2023, his aspiration for a “Golden Slam” in 2024, including all four Slams and the Olympics, is now beyond reach.
