Sinner, after falling to Djokovic: "It hurts a lot, I had many opportunities, I didn't know how to take advantage of them, and this is the result"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 30 Jan 2026 | 16.58

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Jannik Sinner will not be able to repeat the title at the Australian Open. The Italian played a great match against Novak Djokovic, but he was not as precise and aggressive as on other occasions. He got fully involved in Djokovic's game and ended up paying for it, with the weight of the two break points out of the 19 he had.

Although he did not show his best form throughout the Australian Open, his serve, which had been his weak point, was the weapon that kept him in the game for a long time: 26 aces. However, it was not enough to defeat Novak Djokovic, whom he praised in the press conference after his defeat, where he also lamented the missed opportunities.

Jannik Sinner expressed his disappointment after his defeat in the Australian Open 2026 semi-finals against Novak Djokovic.

"It hurts a lot. I had many opportunities, I didn't know how to take advantage of them, and that's the result. I mean, it was a very important Grand Slam for me, obviously, taking into account the whole context. These things can happen. It was a good match by both of us."

"In the end, tennis is played between two. On the other side of the net today was a great player. At some moments, I made decisions that maybe weren't the right ones, and in that sense, that's what one feels afterward. That's how it was, and that's it."

He focuses on the improvement of his serve in this Australian Open.

"It's hard to say. I think the serve is improving; it's an area where I have taken a step forward. Many things have happened in this tournament. I tried to learn also from the victories, as it happened in the previous match against Darderi. I gave everything I had; today it wasn't enough, and it's okay that way."

"I think we are moving forward, and obviously, you know it's hard to talk now because it hasn't been long since I left the court. I still have the match very present, but we always try to take away positive things."

He was not surprised by Djokovic's level of play.

"There wasn't a specific moment, honestly. I had my chances. It was in the fifth set, with many break points, and I couldn't convert them. He hit some incredible shots. Sometimes things are decided by small details. Today it didn't work out, but that's tennis. I felt the first set was also of a very high level from both sides. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, and that's what happened today."

Admiring the figure of the Serbian.

"I know he has won 24 Grand Slams. We know each other very well and we know how we play. I’ve always said that I’m not surprised because I feel he's been the best player for many, many years."

"Of course, he plays fewer tournaments due to his age and everything else, but we also know how important Grand Slams are for me, for him, for Carlos, and for everyone. There's a little extra motivation, and he played spectacular tennis. Hopefully, I can draw something positive from this, take it as a lesson, and see where I can improve."

Missed eight break points in the fifth set.

"I don't want to talk about the eight in particular. In most of them, he served very well, and that also has to be acknowledged. I had my chances, got into some exchanges, and missed shots, and that can happen. That's tennis. Also, a lot of credit must be given for how he played today."

"In the end, I was holding my serve somewhat more easily, and he was struggling more to hold, with many break points. I knew I had won more points than him, but at the same time, that's quite irrelevant if we look at the scoreboard," regrets a Jannik Sinner who bids farewell to the Australian Open 2026 due to a stratospheric and historic Novak Djokovic.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner, tras caer ante Djokovic: "Duele mucho, tuve muchas oportunidades, no supe aprovecharlas y este es el resultado"