Djoker denies 'beginning of the end' of career

As the saying goes, you can’t stop Father Time.

And that saying may be a harsh reality check for 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, who went down in four sets to 22-year old Jannik Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open semi final on Friday night.

The reigning champion was slaughtered in the opening two sets before clawing his way to win the third, then dropped the fourth, to go down 1-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6.

It was an uncharacteristic loss for the veteran, who has won four of the last six Australian Open titles (2019, 2020, 2021, 2023).

Despite the heartbreaking conclusion to his time in Melbourne for 2024, the 36-year-old says he is nowhere near the end of his decorated career.

Novak Djokovic was heartbroken after his shock semi finals exit at the hands of Jannik Sinner.

“I still have high hopes, you know, for other slams, Olympics, and whatever tournaments that I’ll play. It’s just the beginning of the season,” Djokovic told the media after his loss on Friday night.

He did however admit that losing felt foreign on a stage he has come to claim as his own, winning a record 10 grand slams on Rod Laver Arena.

“It’s not the feeling that I’m used to. I mean, it kind of has been incredibly satisfying for me, you know, to start off most of my seasons with a Grand Slam win and never lost in semis or finals of Australian Open,” Djokovic said.

“So this time it’s a bit different, but it is what it is.”

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But the champion was quick to shut down suggestions that he won’t be returning to Melbourne in 2025 and beyond.

“This tournament hasn’t been, as I said, up to my standard or criteria or the level that I would normally play or expect myself to play, but doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s beginning of the end, you know, as some people like to call it,” Djokovic said.

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The world No.1 was blown away by the Italian rising star in the first two sets, but reflected further back on his entire tournament feeling off.

“To be honest, you know, the whole tournament I haven’t really played close to my best,” Djokovic said.

Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy is congratulated by Novak Djokovic of Serbia following their semi final.

“(The) match maybe against (Adrian) Mannarino was great, but most of the matches I was, yeah, not playing up to par, so to say, the way I play here in Australia normally.

“So in a way it did surprise me, because I thought, you know, it won’t be that bad in the first two sets. But on the other hand, I didn’t feel really myself on the court during this tournament.

“One can say semi finals is a great result, of course, but I always expect … the highest of myself, and it wasn’t meant to be today.”

Djokovic’s opponent Jannik Sinner will face world No.3 Daniil Medvedev in the 2024 Australian Open final, to be held on Sunday.