World Courant
Jannik Sinner is the primary participant since Daniil Medvedev in 2019 to beat Novak Djokovic twice in a single season
Jannik Sinner surprised Novak Djokovic as Italy defeated Serbia to arrange a Davis Cup closing towards Australia on Sunday.
Serbia took the lead within the semi-finals when Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-1 within the first singles match.
However Sinner confirmed his class to beat world primary Djokovic 6-2 2-6 7-5 to stage the tie.
Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then defeated Djokovic and Kecmanovic 6-3 6-4 in doubles to safe an exhilarating win.
Sunday’s closing will probably be broadcast dwell on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site from 3pm GMT.
What occurred in Saturday’s semi-final?
An thrilling day in Malaga began with an entertaining first set between Kecmanovic and Musetti, which the reckless Italian took by way of a tie-break.
However because the match progressed it grew to become clear that Musetti was starting to wrestle bodily, and the constant Kecmanovic took the second set comfortably earlier than powering by way of the third to place Serbia forward.
In a second high-quality singles match, world quantity 4 Sinner saved three match factors to inflict a primary Davis Cup defeat on Djokovic since his retirement towards Juan Martin del Potro twelve years (and 21 matches) in the past.
This was the third assembly between Djokovic and Sinner in 12 days, after they performed one another twice and received one every eventually week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner was unplayable within the opening set because the 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared uncharacteristically misplaced on the court docket, however Djokovic hit again to stage the match as his opponent’s stage dropped.
The deciding set was stuffed with high quality, grit and drama in a raucous environment and Sinner saved three match factors from 5-4 and 40-0 earlier than breaking Djokovic earlier than serving out the match.
That tied the doubles match, and Italy appeared comfy successful the opening set.
At one level, Djokovic was booed by the group, who had executed the identical advised a bunch of British followers to close up earlier this week — and he responded by gesticulating like a conductor.
Nevertheless, he failed to reply to Sinner’s blistering groundstrokes, and an impressed Sonego helped Italy to their first Davis Cup closing in 25 years.
Novak Djokovic was on a 21-match successful streak within the Davis Cup earlier than dropping to Jannik Sinner
Evaluation
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Among the most harrowing Davis Cup historical past has been offered by gamers unaccustomed to competing for main titles, but it surely would not harm the competitors when two of the world’s prime 4 conflict within the semi-finals.
Jannik Sinner will in the future be capable of inform his grandchildren that he defeated Novak Djokovic 3 times in eleven days.
Saving three match factors within the singles was outstanding, as was the victory that adopted two matches later, as Djokovic had not misplaced a singles match for his nation for the reason that 2011 semi-final.
A unbelievable efficiency by each males, who contested the ultimate of the ATP Finals in Turin six days in the past.
4 hours on court docket will put Sinner at an obstacle in Sunday’s closing, however how Djokovic needs he had been in that place.
His disappointment will probably be acute, however what a season he has had. Even with two defeats to Sinner within the final two weeks, he received 36 of 39 singles matches from the beginning of the French Open – on the age of 36.
Davis Cup Ultimate 2023: Jannik Sinner beats Novak Djokovic as Italy reaches the ultimate
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