Jannik Sinner reaffirmed his dominance over Novak Djokovic by beating him 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes in the semifinal of the Saudi Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament.
After this victory, Sinner will face the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, as happened last year, with a prize of six million dollars at stake.
The match showed the superiority of the Italian against the Serbian.
Once he managed to break “Nole’s” serve, the now world number two tipped the match in his favor and closed the first set 6-4.
In the second, Djokovic lost his serve from the first game and failed to regain his rhythm.
Sinner, current champion, maintained his authority on the court and did not allow his rival to disguise the defeat, even reversing adverse situations such as 15-40 down in the sixth game of the second set.
Evident deterioration
Djokovic, with 100 titles in his career, has not won a Masters 1000 or a Grand Slam since 2023, the year in which he won seven trophies, including three majors and two Masters 1000.
His physical decline is very noticeable compared to rivals like Sinner and Alcaraz, who are at another level, and his performance in Riyadh reflects difficulties in maintaining the pace against the new generation of players.
It is worth remembering how badly he came out a few days ago, when he was eliminated in the Shanghai Masters 1000. He presented physical difficulties and was overtaken by the Monegasque Valentin Vacherot.
Now he will have to face the American Taylor Fritz, in the duel for third place in this tournament in Arabia.
For his participation in the tournament, Djokovic earned one and a half million dollars.
A final that does not bore
The duel between Sinner and Alcaraz will be a final with some pending accounts.
The Spaniard, who previously beat Fritz, is looking for revenge after losing to the Italian in 2024.
Fifteen matches have been played between Sinner and Alcaraz, seven of them finals. Alcaraz has won ten of the fifteen, including the two most recent, the United States Open and the Cincinnati Masters 1000, while Sinner triumphed at Wimbledon.
This will be the seventh consecutive final between the two, in a clash that pits the two best players in the world today.
The winner of this match will go home with six million dollars.
This exhibition tournament in Arab territory confirms the consolidation of Sinner as a dominant figure and marks a pending challenge for Alcaraz in the search for supremacy in world tennis.— EFE
Sinner-DjokovicStatements
The protagonists of the Six Kings Slam semifinal give a few words at the end of the duel, in Arabia.
Jannik Sinner
“I think we’ve all seen it. Djokovic is a great example for the younger generations. Seeing how he competes, how he plays and his effort to be in situations like this. What he has achieved in his career is incredible. I consider him an idol and playing against him is an honor and a privilege,” he said.
Novak Djokovic
“The challenge is always worth it. The love for the game and the passion for tennis are there,” he said. “I have the body I have. I am grateful for everything God has given me in life. It has been an incredible experience. There has been a lot to celebrate,” he added.
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