Jannik Sinner back ahead against Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner breaks the balance again in the second Australian Open semifinal. The defending champion went back ahead by a set, winning the third partial in a sprint (6-4) against Novak Djokovic, the world and seeded number four. The first and second sets had gone respectively to the Blue and the Serb by the same score (6-3).
Sinner started very well on serve with five firsts out of five. In the second game the Azure thanks also to a splendid backhand pass in the long line gets the first break points of the match: Djokovic is too foul and with another forehand error loses the serve. Jannik continues to serve very well and with a couple of aces goes up 3-0. In the fourth game Nole avoids a double break with an ace and gets unblocked (1-3). In the fifth game the South Tyrolean has to face the first break ball but saves himself with an excellent second and with yet another ace goes ahead 4-1. Djokovic tries to hang on but Sinner is relentless on serve and closes the partial set at zero with a winning backhand forehand.
The second set opens with a wonderful point by Sinner who then makes a few too many errors, however. Nole rises to the performance with his serve and also in response: in the fourth game at the third useful opportunity he scores, getting the first break of the match (3-1). Immediate the reaction of the Blue who conquers three consecutive break points of the counter-break but Novak comes out as a champion (4-1). The Serb with an ace saves another break point in the seventh game before closing the second partial with a winning forehand.
Sinner gets off to a strong start in the third set with a game to zero, topped by an ace and a winning forehand. Djokovic is not to be outdone: two winning forehands and an ace give him the’1-1. Sinner commits the first double fault of the match but rises from 15-30 thanks also to a winning backhand (2-1). The Serb also climbs from 15-30 with a couple of spells and in the fifth game earns a break point but Jannik is glacial: bunt and pass, then with the same pattern goes up 3-2. With a pair of aces Sinner keeps his lead ahead (4-3) but Djokovic evens the score. In the tenth game all of a sudden Sinner earns three consecutive break points and on the second Djokovic misses: the Blue goes back ahead by a set
