Novak Djokovic evens the score with Jannik Sinner: 1-1

Novak Djokovic evened the set count in the second Australian Open semifinal. After the world and seeding number two had won the first set 6-3, the 24-time Slam champion responded by taking the second set with the same score bringing the match back to a perfect tie

Luca Giorgetti

Sinner starts very well on serve with five firsts out of five. In the second game l’Azzurro 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.

In the first semifinal in Melbourne, at the end of a real marathon (five hours and 26 minutes of play), Carlos Alcaraz managed to beat Alexander Zverev. The German recovered from 0-2 down, taking the match to the fifth set where he also served for victory at 5-4. The Spaniard had the strength to fight back, closing 7-5. These are the partials of the match: 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. It should be highlighted how, starting from the third set, the Spaniard, number 1 seed on the scoreboard, had to deal with a physical problem (cramps, exactly as happened to Jannik Sinner).