Novak Djokovic’s 43-match losing streak in Australia came to an end with a surprising 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alex De Minaur in the United Cup on Wednesday night. Djokovic had not lost Down Under since the 2018 Aussie Open quarterfinals against Hyeon Chung.
De Minaur won 33 of 34 first-serve points and did not face a single break point while prevailing in one hour and 33 minutes. A single break of his own in each set was enough for the world No. 12; at 4-4 in the opener and at 3-3 in the second.
“It’s extra special,” De Minaur assured. “Novak is an unbelievable competitor and what he’s done for the sport is pretty special. It feels surreal, amazing, and I’m very happy to do it here in Perth and Australia. When you go up against Novak you have to go out and enjoy it and back yourself and no matter what keep fighting until the end. Today was my day and I’m happy that I was able to get the win.”
It marked De Minaur’s first-ever victory over an opponent ranked No. 1 in the world.
“I’m here to prove a lot of people wrong and to try and get better,” the 24-year-old added. “Ultimately I won’t be the biggest or the strongest. I will show I have variety in my game and I’m glad I could bring this level today.”
Australia swept Serbia 2-0 after Ajla Tomljanovic cruised past Natalija Stevanovic 6-1, 6-1. The Aussies await either Germany or Greece in the semifinals. The other side of the United Cup draw will pit Poland against either France or Norway.
This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.
