Jannik Sinner faced off against Novak Djokovic in an epic semi-final on Saturday at the Australian Open. The two-time defending champion put on a statistical masterclass but still fell short against the Serb, and Martina Navratilova was left stunned as the World No.2’s 72 winners failed to stop his opponent.
Sinner was the overwhelming favorite for the win in his battle against Djokovic and the Italian began the match on a strong note, clinching the first set in a dominant fashion. However, the Serb made a quick recovery, eventually winning their clash 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Throughout the match, Sinner led Djokovic in most statistics, including points on the first serve, points on the second serve and overall winners. Despite this, the 24-year-old could not close out on break points, which proved to be the most crucial stat of the day. Reacting to Sinner’s loss, Martina Navratilova told the Tennis Channel,
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“I mean if Sinner converted on those early break points in the fifth set he could have won the set 6-2. Instead, Novak cashed it in. Sinner was trying to go to Novak’s backhand too much. I think he should have run him around the court more. But look at the winners. But those numbers just don’t mean anything. On paper, Sinner wins this match hands down.”
This loss marked the first time Jannik Sinner has been defeated by Novak Djokovic in over two years. With this semifinals exit, the Italian’s dreams of three consecutive Australian Open titles also came to a close.
Jannik Sinner reflects on his Australian Open exit
Jannik Sinner entered the 2026 Australian Open as the reigning two-time champion. The 24-year-old kicked off his campaign in Melbourne on a promising note, outdoing the likes of Hugo Gaston and James Duckworth with ease. While the second seed ran into some trouble with Eliot Spizzirri in his third round, he quickly recovered, dominating Luciano Darderi and Ben Shelton in his next two matches.
The Italian’s comfortable run came to an end in the semifinals as he was ousted by Novak Djokovic. Reflecting on his exit from the year’s first Grand Slam, Sinner told media,
“I mean, it was, you know, a very important Sam for me. Of course, you know, knowing also the background and (everything), it can happen. It was a good match from both of us and yeah, I had many chances, but couldn’t use them and that’s the outcome. So yeah, it hurts for sure.”
Up next, Jannik Sinner is scheduled to return to action at the Qatar Open. The tournament will take place between February 16 and 21, and it will feature the likes of Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Edited by Riddhi Acharya
