Novak Djokovic's campaign at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh ended in the semi-final. Like a year ago in the same round, the Serb fell to Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes.
The 24-year-old delivered a commanding performance and outplayed the veteran on serve and return for his seventh straight success against Djokovic if we count their Riyadh duels.
While ending on the losing side, Novak embraced an on-court interview and showcased his trademark sense of humor. The Serb turned the brief encounter into a moment of laughter, joking with Jannik and the crowd about the match's short duration.
Djokovic apologized for such a short match while blaming Sinner and his performance for that. The Italian's sharp serving and a relentless pace left the 38-year-old searching for answers.
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The 24-time Major winner wasted both break points while alreadystanding on the exit door and dropped serve three times to arrange the third-place duel against Taylor Fritz.
Jannik ruled the court and imposed his strokes. However, Djokovic handled defeat with grace and a smile. His light-hearted spirit reminded fans of the joy and respect that define his approach to our sport.
This was not an official match, but Sinner provided another statement victory over the most accomplished player of all time, extending his brilliant streak that started nearly two years ago.
Novak will now focus on the closing events of the season, although we do not know much about his schedule in the upcoming weeks besides his participation at the ATP 250 event in Athens.
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For the Serb, this was an opportunity to show that even in defeat, his charisma and sportsmanship continue to shine as bright as his untouchable achievements.
Jannik moved in front with an early break in the third game of the opener. He served well and claimed the opener 6-4. The younger player grabbed back-to-back breaks in the second set and moved over the top in style.
"I'm sorry you could not see a longer match today. It's Jannik's fault, not mine. I tried to intimidate him a bit in that last game with the 0-15 point, but it did not work," Novak Djokovic said.
