“The defeat against Djokovic has taught me many things": Jannik Sinner reflects on Australian Open defeat before Doha

Jannik Sinner will return to competition next week at the Qatar Open, three weeks after his semi-final defeat at the Australian Open. The world No. 2 was beaten by Novak Djokovic in a five-set contest on Rod Laver Arena, falling 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and missing the chance to defend his title in Melbourne.

The Italian had been aiming to join an exclusive group of players to win three consecutive Australian Open titles in the Open Era. Instead, Djokovic advanced to the final, where Carlos Alcaraz defeated the Serbian to complete a Career Grand Slam at 22. For Sinner, the loss interrupted a period of sustained consistency at the highest level.

In Melbourne, Sinner did not produce his most dominant tennis, particularly in the semi-final, where he was tested physically and tactically across five sets. Despite creating opportunities in key moments, he was unable to consolidate his advantage against the 38-year-old Djokovic, who managed the decisive stages with greater control.

With no ranking points to defend until Rome, Sinner begins this stretch of the season in a relatively open position in the standings. Doha offers an immediate opportunity to close the gap to Alcaraz, who will also compete in Qatar. Djokovic will not be in the draw, but Sinner faces a demanding opening match against Tomas Machac.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Sinner described the defeat as part of a broader learning process. He rejected the idea of overreaction and stressed that narrow losses at Grand Slam level must be placed in context, even when the stakes involve history.

“The defeat against Djokovic has taught me many things. It was a great match, both for me and for him. I had my chances, and sometimes things don't go as expected, but that's sports. We are now making small adjustments on the court, and these take time to become natural, but I have received positive feedback. We must not forget that losing sometimes is normal too.”

The 24-year-old also addressed how he processed the attention surrounding the match, particularly given the narrative built around his rivalry with Alcaraz and his results over the past two seasons at major tournaments. “I experienced it in a very normal way. I am 24 years old, and I just want to play good tennis anywhere in the world, that's all," the 4-time major champion said. "Sometimes, it's okay to lose."

"What I have done in the last two years, along with Alcaraz, has attracted a lot of attention. It just happened as it did. Now, let's try to get back into the rhythm, feel the tournament pressure again, and see what happens.”

Sinner confirmed that the work carried out since Melbourne has involved more than technical corrections. He pointed to tactical and mental aspects as areas under evaluation, while insisting that the semi-final level itself remained high despite the outcome. “It's not just technical, it's also tactical and mental. There are many things I can improve, but we shouldn't dwell on the problems just because of losing a Grand Slam semifinal against Novak Djokovic. It was a very good match, though not easy to accept.”

Turning to the conditions in Doha, Sinner downplayed concerns about the climate. Night sessions in Qatar can present challenges, but he indicated that the heat would not represent a decisive factor compared with previous tournaments, including Australia. “It's hot. But nothing out of the ordinary, not like in Australia or other drier places. At night, it can be hot, but it can also cool down. It depends on the day-to-day and the wind; for now, everything is fine.”

Away from tennis, Sinner revealed he has been closely following the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, even adjusting elements of his schedule to watch certain events. He highlighted skiing in particular and spoke about observing elite competition from a different angle.

“I'm watching a lot, I even changed my training plans to watch, especially skiing. It's amazing. Seeing every athlete at the highest level, so many surprises, both positive and negative. It's really good to see this tension from the outside,” concluded Jannik Sinner eager to return to the court and put the Australian Open behind him.