Lleyton Hewitt statistic emerges after Novak Djokovic's shock defeat

• Men’s Australian Open final will have a point of difference on Sunday
• Either Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer won’t feature
• Last time that unfolded was 2005 when Lleyton Hewitt lost the final

A stunning detail involving home grown tennis great Lleyton Hewitt has emerged online following Novak Djokovic’s shock Australian Open semi-final defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner.

When the Italian takes on Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, it will be the first Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park since 2005 not featuring either Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.

Tennis Channel posted the remarkable statistic on X, pointing out Hewitt was beaten in four sets by Russian Marat Safin almost 20 years ago.

Ironically in the same 2005 tournament, Safin beat a youthful Djokovic in straight sets in the first round before going onto claim his second career major.

He also won the US Open in 2000, stunning Pete Sampras in three clinical sets at Flushing Meadows.

A stunning detail involving Lleyton Hewitt has emerged following Novak Djojkovic’s shock Australian Open semi-final defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner (Hewitt is pictured, at Melbourne Park in 2005)

When Jannik Sinner takes on Russian Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, it will be the first Grand Slam final at Melbourne Park since 2005 not featuring either Djokovic, (pictured) Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal

Jannik Sinner is gunning for his maiden Grand Slam title and the fourth seed has dropped just one set all tournament

Many fans were impressed by the statistic from Tennis Channel, and called for a changing of the guard away from the ‘big three.’

Federer has since retired and Nadal is tipped to walk away from the ATP circuit this year – leaving the Serbian superstar, 36, to fly the flag.

‘I’m done with the Big Three. Bring on the next generation,’ one supporter posted in response to the tweet.

‘Let’s have some new champions on court, the time has come,’ said another.

Sunday will be Medvedev’s third Australian Open final in four years, and after losing the first two, the baseline expert will be hoping for a change in fortune against Sinner.

Medvedev again showed his ironman status on Friday night on Rod Laver Arena, coming from two sets down to triumph in five gruelling sets against German Alexander Zverev.

In contrast, Sinner has dropped just one set all tournament, and showed nerves of steel to beat Djokovic, who has won a jaw-dropping 10 major titles in Melbourne dating back to 2008.

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