The key to Sinner’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win over Djokovic in the AO semis was the serve – against the best returner in the game, the Italian faced zero break points.
The fourth seed’s two victories at the end of last season (WTF; Davis Cup) seem to have given him a taste for usurping the Serb. This time he did it on the top seed’s favorite stage.
Sinner now goes into his first ever slam final in championship winning form and with momentum. Last season, he won his first Masters title, reached the WTF final and his first slam semi. This was the next step, a win over Djokovic to reach a Major final, and those long legs of his obliged.
Djokovic seemed keen to give him a helping hand, too. The defending champion was subdued and error prone in the first two sets. His opponent’s confidence and coolness seemed to unsettle him. Windy conditions and the relative unknown of a day time match up on the Rod Laver Arena no doubt added to the weirdness of it all. This was his court, after all. Sinner, however, was hell bent on making himself at home.
The top seed improved his serve in the third set and resisted the Italian as best as he could, taking the third set on a close tiebreaker. A slight wobble from Sinner was expected. His only previous slam semi-final fell flat at the hands of his opponent in straights just seven months ago. There were other demonic memories to quell, too; the two sets to love lead he held over Djokovic that Wimbledon quarter-final was one he’d recovered from but such defeats can rear their ugly heads at will.
Not this time, though. Sinner knew he had to deliver. Aged 22 and on the rise, if he didn’t do this now, the chance of him doing it another big match like this diminished. The time, against an opponent aged 36, really had come and Sinner was ready. There was to be no two sets to love down fightback versus a nervous, angst-ridden next gen for the ten time champion. Just as there would be no break points.
None. Not a single one.
Sinner’s semi-final upset accomplished, next up is a debut major final, against Medvedev or Zverev, to tackle. The fourth seeded Italian seems to know what he needs to do in these challenging milestones. Doing so seems the logical next step, but a defeat wouldn’t be a surprise. Sometimes too much too soon can be bad for you, and Sinner has had his fill in recent months. Still, hunger that his slender frame doesn’t attest to seems to be driving him. All those waiting for this kind of NextGen breakthrough will be bracing themselves for the ride.
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