Australian Open: ‘I’M Astonished at My Level’ – Novak Djokovic Responds to ‘One of the Worst Grand Slam Matches’ of His Career

Novak Djokovic expressed astonishment at his performance, deeming the loss in the Australian Open as “one of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve ever played.” Despite arriving at Melbourne Park as the reigning 10-time champion and seeking to defend his 2023 crown, Djokovic’s title defense was abruptly halted by the impressive Sinner. The Italian closed out the match in four sets, securing victory with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3, overcoming a momentary challenge in the third set tie-break.

Djokovic, plagued by errors, committed 54 unforced errors and failed to secure a single break point throughout the match. The Serbian displayed frustration during the game, and in his post-match press conference, he harshly criticized his own performance. The world No. 1 expressed shock at his subpar level, stating, “This is one of the worst Grand Slam matches I’ve ever played; at least that I remember. [It’s] not a very pleasant feeling playing this way.”

Acknowledging Sinner’s superiority in every aspect of the game, Djokovic noted that he managed to elevate his performance in the third set, saving a match point and playing a good tie-break. However, he admitted a disappointing fourth set, losing a crucial game despite being 40-0 up at 1-2 against the wind. Djokovic concluded that the overall performance level of his tennis was notably below par.

While Djokovic had lost three sets on his way to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park, his overall dominance had been evident in the matches leading up to the encounter with Sinner. However, the Italian swiftly secured a two-set lead, and Djokovic’s attempt at a revival in the third set proved to be only a temporary improvement. Djokovic conceded that throughout the entire tournament, he had not performed close to his best.

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While Djokovic acknowledged his exceptional performance against Mannarino, he expressed dissatisfaction with his overall play in most matches throughout the tournament, comparing it unfavorably to his usual standard in Australia. The Serbian admitted surprise at the extent of his struggle in the first two sets against Sinner, attributing it to not feeling like himself on the court during the competition. Despite reaching the semi-finals, Djokovic emphasized his high expectations and highlighted various aspects of his game that were subpar, including his return, movement, forehand, and backhand.

Despite the disappointment, Djokovic swiftly dispelled any notions that his performance was a result of his age (36). He maintained optimism for future Slams, the Olympics, and other tournaments. Djokovic reflected on the deviation from his usual success at the Australian Open but asserted that it doesn’t signify the beginning of the end, as some might suggest. He concluded by expressing curiosity about what the rest of the season holds.