Djokovic was knocked out by Sinner at the Australian Open, meaning the new champion will be crowned at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2014. Djokovic's exit in the last four of the Australian Open means that this year's final will be played without him, Nadal or Federer for the first time since 2005.
Djokovic's first Grand Slam of the year, which is aiming for his 11th title and 25th Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, is on a 33-match winning streak in Australia, but with Sinner's impressive performances it has brought the winning streak to an end. The Italian defeated the world number one and reached the first Grand Slam final of his career for the first time.
With Djokovic out, it means that the Australian Open men's final will no longer have members of the tennis triumvirate for the first time in 19 years. In 2005, Safin took on Hewitt, and the Russians won the title 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
"The fight wasn't up to my standard or standard, and it wasn't at the level I would normally play or expect myself to play," Djokovic said later. "But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the beginning of the end, as some like to call it. Let's see what happens for the rest of the season. 」
Sinner will face Mei in the final, meaning Melbourne Park will be crowned new champions for the first time since Wawrinka defeated Nadal in 2014. 2024 will be the third team in 21 years after Safin and Wawrinka to win the Australian Open with a name other than the Big Three. The Italian dropped just one set in the entire tournament and he will have a chance to join the elite team of tennis Grand Slam champions.
"It's very, very tough," said Sinner, who was the first Italian to reach the Melbourne singles final. "I don't think Djokovic is feeling good, so I keep trying. I just tried to get ready for the fourth set and I started very, really well. Confidence at the end of last season has certainly been strengthened. Keep believing that I can play against the best players in the world, I'm really happy that I played in my first final, I learned a lot from the Wimbledon loss, it's all part of the process. 」
Mei advanced to the Australian Open final for the third time in the last four years after beating Zverev from two sets down. The third seed lost to Djokovic in 2021 before playing an epic five-set match against Nadal in 2022. May will play in his sixth Grand Slam final, and for the first time against opponents other than Djokovic or Nadal.