Jannik Sinner Admits to Handling Defeat to Novak Djokovic at Australian Open ‘in a Very Normal Way’
Novak Djokovic snapped his five-match losing streak against fellow former World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinal.
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Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Danny, Jannik Sinner HQ)
- Jannik Sinner will face Tomas Machac in his first match since the Australian Open semifinal.
- Sinner acknowledged handling his defeat to Novak Djokovic in a "very normal way."
- Djokovic improved his head-to-head record against Sinner to 5-6 after their recent match.
Jannik Sinner will be back in action on Monday (February 16). He will be up against Tomas Machac in his opening round of the Qatar Open in what will also be his first match since the Australian Open semifinal.
Sinner, in his bid for a three-peat and join Novak Djokovic as the only second player in the Open Era to do so, was defeated by the Serb in five sets in the last four. Djokovic finally ended his five-match losing streak and improved his head-to-head record to 5-6.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who skipped the Qatar Open last year due to his three-month doping ban, revealed how he handled his defeat to the 24-time Grand Slam champion during his interview with Sky Sports Italy.
I experienced it in a very normal way. I am 24 years old, and I just want to play good tennis anywhere in the world, that’s all. Sometimes, it’s okay to lose. What I have done in the last two years, along with Alcaraz, has attracted a lot of attention. It just happened as it did. Now, let’s try to get back into the rhythm, feel the tournament pressure again, and see what happens.
Jannik Sinner said
After toppling the 24-year-old, Djokovic made the final of a Major for the first time since 2024 Wimbledon. Carlos Alcaraz repeated that Wimbledon final result by securing a four-set win over the 38-year-old to clinch his career’s first title at Melbourne Park and become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Twice Sinner defeated Djokovic in the semifinals of the Majors last year (French Open and Wimbledon). It was also the South Tyrol native who knocked Djokovic out of the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open before defeating Daniil Medvedev to win his career’s first Grand Slam title.
Casper Ruud compares playing the Big 3 to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Casper Ruud has faced every member of the Big 3 as well as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Roger Federer defeated him at the 2019 Roland Garros in their lone meeting. Rafael Nadal held a 2-0 head-to-head record over him after wins in the final of the 2022 Roland Garros and in the round robin stage of the 2022 ATP Finals.
The Norwegian ace trails 1-5 against Novak Djokovic, with the lone win coming in the semifinal of the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters. Sinner holds a perfect 4-0 record, while Alcaraz leads 5-1. In an interview with tennis MAGAZIN, Ruud was asked if facing the World No.1 and the World No.2 is different from facing the Big 3.
The Big 3 had an almost intimidating presence due to their history. Carlos and Jannik bring something different: incredible intensity, speed, and fearlessness. The game has evolved, and you have to be prepared for a very physical and fast-paced style.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist, who lost to Fabian Marozsan in the round of 16 of the ASB Classic and to Ben Shelton in the fourth round of the Australian Open, is set to play the Delray Beach Open. Last year, Ruud played three finals, winning the title at the Madrid Open by defeating Jack Draper and at the Stockholm Open by defeating Ugo Humbert. He lost the Dallas Open final to Denis Shapovalov.
Alcaraz, like Sinner, will play at the Qatar Open, where he lost to Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals last year. Djokovic will be skipping the ATP 500 event due to “strong fatigue” and is expected to be back for the Sunshine Doubles, where last year, he lost in the opening round at Indian Wells and in the final of the Miami Open.
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