Australian Open 2024 | Jannik Sinner further frustrates Andrey Rublev to find Novak Djokovic

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As usual since the start of the fortnight, Jannik Sinner did the job in three sets. Against Andrey Rublev, the Italian qualified after 2h39 of combat (6-4, 7-6, 6-3) and reached the final four of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. If the world number four has still not conceded a single set in five matches in this tournament, it is on the other hand a tenth defeat in as many attempts for Andrey Rublev at the Grand Slam quarter-final stage. In the next round, Sinner will meet Novak Djokovic in a highly anticipated tennis summit.

The Australian night has delivered its verdict and it is unrelenting: Jannik Sinner is the man in form in Melbourne. This Friday, it’s a safe bet that tennis fans will be glued to their screens to witness an anticipated clash between two of the four best players in the world. And for good reason: this Sinner-Rublev showed all the gap that could separate two tennis players only separated from one place in the ATP ranking. On the one hand, a very complete profile capable of varying his serving zones but also of defending well on his line, maintaining a high intensity in the rallies and demonstrating excellent tactical reading in the match. On the other side of the court, a big server and hitter from the baseline, but too limited in his abilities to make his opponent wobble.

Sinner on his comeback in the tie-break: “I just tried to stay aggressive”

Sinner stunning in the decisive game

From then on, the game started with a bang and the games went in favor of the servers until Rublev experienced his first mental breakdown. Punished by a white break after missing two break points on Sinner’s serve, the Muscovite did not digest this first hitch. Opportunistic, Sinner did not miss his chance to conclude the first set in 38 minutes (6-3). With his back against the wall, Rublev fought against his old demons to fend off an increasingly plausible elimination. The defending champion in Monte-Carlo saved two break points to lead 2-1, but missed the opportunity to break away in the next game on two break points in his favor. Still as solid in the important points, Sinner did not procrastinate despite the appearance of abdominal pain in the middle of the second set.

From 1-5 to 7-5: Sinner’s incredible comeback in the tie break

Slowly but surely, Rublev lacked the mental strength to make the difference in a round within his reach. During the decisive game of the second set, Rublev found himself two points away from equalizing a set at 5-1… before conceding six consecutive points and definitively losing the thread of the match (7-6) . Victim of too much frustration and often in complaint, Rublev obtained eight break points in total in this meeting but did not convert any of them. Less crumbly, Sinner broke away in the sixth game of the third and final round to lead 4-2. Behind, the matter was decided to know Novak Djokovic’s opponent in the semi-final (6-3). It is unclear whether Sinner is capable of bringing down the defending champion, but Djokovic is undefeated in ten semi-finals in Melbourne. In any case, Sinner could not have prepared better to climb the Serbian mountain.

“We must underline Sinner’s mentality in the face of a player who whines in front of him”