Australian Open 2024: Jannick Sinner beats Andrey Rublev and joins Novak Djokovic in semi-final

Jannick Sinner. MAXPPP – LUKAS COCH

Blockbuster announced: world No.4 Jannik Sinner joined world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Australian Open thanks to his 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 against world No.5 Andrey Rublev on Tuesday evening.

Sinner will be the only semi-finalist not to have lost a single set since the start of the Australian fortnight.

At 22, the young Italian will play the second major semi-final of his career, after that of Wimbledon last year, lost against Djokovic.

Quel POINT de Jannik Sinner avant de faire tourner le tie-break contre Andrey Rublev. 🔥

Coup gagnant à 152 km/h. 🤯pic.twitter.com/VYLKvMKR3Q

— Univers Tennis 🎾 (@UniversTennis) January 23, 2024

Since then, and until the end of 2023, Sinner is the only player to have managed to beat the Serbian champion. Even twice: at the Masters, in the group stage, and in the Davis Cup. Between the two, he lost to the world No.1 in the Masters final.

The long-awaited semi-final

On the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday evening, Sinner came close to losing his first set of the tournament, when he was trailing 5 points to 1 in the deciding game of the second sleeve. But he was able to win the next six points.

How did he do it ? "I don't know… But I love playing this kind of moments, these points under pressure, that's what I train for, I tried to stay aggressive", replies Sinner, after his match ended shortly before 1:30 a.m.

Jannick Sinner got the better of Andrey Rublev. AAP – LUKAS COCH

How is he approaching his upcoming semi-final on Friday against Djokovic ? "I'm really lucky to play against him again" , even if "it's going to be difficult, against the world No.1, who has won sometimes here, in one of the biggest tournaments", smiles Sinner.

Earlier in the day, Djokovic withstood the oppressive heat and world No.12 Taylor Fritz, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the at the end of a standoff lasting almost four hours, to qualify for his eleventh semi-final at the Australian Open and come within two victories of the Australian Open. an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam coronation.

Also read: Australian Open 2024: Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, 2 victories away from an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title

Before Sinner, only one Italian player had reached the last four in Melbourne: Matteo Berrettini two years ago.