Sinner and Djokovic are on the court in Melbourne in the second semi-final of the Australian Open: the Italian won the first set 6-3, immediately going ahead 3-0 and closing in control. The second set was won with the same score by the Serbian, who increased in intensity while the Italian was less incisive (down 3-1, he lost a game on Nole’s serve from 0-40) and more foul. In the third set, head to head, Sinner prevails 6-4, after canceling a dangerous break point at 2 all (given with an imprudent double fault, neutralized with a short ball and a millimeter passing backhand down the line).
Alcaraz in the final
Alcaraz celebrates by throwing himself to the ground as if he had won the tournament, after five and a half hours of battle in the Australian Open semi-final against Sascha Zverev. Who will remember this defeat for the rest of his life: he succumbed to the world number one, capable of overcoming even the cramps that occurred when he was close to winning in the third set, holding on and playing as best he could, and then attacking in a fifth set in which he was always at a disadvantage and winning. The score says it all: 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5 for the world number one who thus conquers the first Australian Open final of his career, proving, once again, his greatness, his ability to come back from the ravine, shots he can count on even when his body is on the ropes. Zverev’s regrets are incalculable, he was unable to sink when he could have, with an opponent weakened by cramps. In the fifth set he was always ahead by a break, and after neutralizing several break points he went to serve for the match at 5-4… but nothing. He let himself be reached and beaten by an Alcaraz who was stronger than his physical problems.
«I’ve always said that you have to believe in yourself, always fight, in the middle of the third it was physically one of the toughest matches, perhaps the toughest. But I had already found myself in those conditions, and so I put my heart into it, I knew I had to fight until the last ball, I knew that problem could pass me by, I’m extremely proud of what I did”, said the Spaniard at the end of the match who then thanked the crowd: “It’s an achievement to play the final here in Melbourne, to fight for the title, to be in this situation, in this stadium: you brought me back to life, encouraged me, I’m grateful for your support not only today but throughout the tournament. I know you will support me on Sunday but now I aim to recover, see you on Sunday”, he concluded, while Zverev took the exit with his head bowed, literally in pieces.
Now Jannik Sinner plays with Nole Djokovic to win the third consecutive final here in Melbourne and challenge, once again, the Spaniard.
