zero break points, 33 victories in a row… The figures which explain the scope of Jannik Sinner’s feat against Novak Djokovic

The Serbian was beaten in four sets by the world number 4 on Friday in the semi-final in Melbourne.

It’s the sensation of the day in Melbourne. The master of the place, Novak Djokovic, ten victories on the clock at the Australian Open, was beaten in the semi-final of the tournament by Jannik Sinner (6-1, 6-2, 6-7 [6-8], 6-3), Friday January 26. A victory of exceptional character as it is difficult to beat the world number one in your garden. A look back at the significant figures which explain why the Italian’s victory is resounding.

The end of a streak of 33 consecutive victories

Six years and four days. This is how long it has been since Novak Djokovic lost at the Australian Open. Winner in his last four participations (he was absent in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19), the Serbian’s last defeat dates back to January 22, 2018. He then lost to the South Korean Hyeon Chung (7- 6, 7-5, 7-6) in the round of 16.

A series of 33 victories in a row, a long period of invincibility of which only the greatest have the secret. In the 21st century, the Serbian did better than Rafael Nadal, undefeated at Roland-Garros between May 31, 2009 and June 3, 2015 (six years and… three days), but worse than Roger Federer, who had only lost no matches at Wimbledon for six years and 12 days (between 2002 and 2008) and no matches at the US Open over a span of six years and 10 days (between 2003 and 2009).

0 break points, unheard of in his Grand Slam career

“I think it was one of my worst Grand Slam matches as far back as I can remember.”. At a press conference after his defeat, “Nole” did not mince his words. Looking at the statistics, the world number one did not play a great match. Excluding retirement, this is quite simply the first time for him that he has not obtained a break point during a Grand Slam match in… 73 participations since 2005 (excluding retirement).

Data that “says a lot” on the Italian’s performance, admitted the Serb. Jannik Sinner “served very well, with great precision and he was comfortable with his shots. And me… difficult to describe in fact. There are a lot of things I did today that I’m not happy with.”, he continued. Facing him, the Italian converted five of his eleven break points.

First semi-final defeat in Melbourne

Novak Djokovic is not the type to give up in the semi-finals… especially in Melbourne. In 19 appearances at the Australian Open since 2005, the Serbian has qualified in the last four 11 times. Until now, he had never lost in a semi-final, always reaching the final, where he always won (10 victories in 10 finals).

Australia is indeed his garden, and his success in the last four of the other Grand Slams confirms it. At Roland Garros, the Serbian lost five times in the semi-finals (for seven victories), including three times against Rafael Nadal. At the US Open as at Wimbledon, Djokovic recorded three semi-final defeats, but all before 2015.

3 games scored in two sets, a very rare rout

Against Sinner, the start of the Serbian match was more than chaotic.“I was shocked by my level, in the bad sense of the word. I didn’t do much good in the first two sets”, he admitted after the meeting. Lacking physical intensity and struggling with his returns, Novak Djokovic let the first two sets slip away 6-1, 6-2.

A rare poor performance since it is only the third time that “Nole” has pocketed only three games or less in total in the first two sets of a Grand Slam tournament. Previously, this had happened to him during his very first Grand Slam match, during the Australian Open in 2005 against the Russian Marat Safin (6-0, 6-2, 6-1) then against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros 2020 (6-0, 6-2, 7-5).