Former Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash has led a chorus of praise for Novak Djokovic’s staggering victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner to reach his 11th Australian Open final.
As underdogs go Djokovic is better than most with the 38-year-old boasting a record 24 Grand Slam single’s titles, 10 of which have come in Melbourne, but given his age and the quality of his opponent this was a comeback for the ages.
Djokovic roared back from one set down and a two sets to one deficit to beat the 24-year-old world No.2, who was bidding for a third straight Australian Open title in a 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 epic, that was hailed one of the greatest matches ever at Melbourne Park.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, Cash was in awe of Djokovic’s stunning display as the wily old veteran put in arguably the best performance of his career.
“It’s hard to put everything into words,” Cash said.
“Great serving from Djokovic, it kept him in the match so often.
“Sinner just could not break, his break percentage was ridiculously low for him. Sometimes you have them matches where you can’t break and it plays on your mind.
“Sinner threw everything at him in the fifth set, he came out swinging much harder and it looked like his set. Djokovic hung on and it was like the Djokovic of old.
“We saw it last year here, he beat Alcaraz – will it be the same? Can his body recover? I don’t think that is his concern right now, he is just happy to get to the final.”
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Former Wimbledon finalist Tim Henman echoed Cash’s sentiments in trying to sum up Djokovic’s out of this world comeback.
“An absolutely staggering performance from Novak Djokovic,” Henman said on TNT Sports and Eurosport
“Write this legend off at your peril. What he has produced today was absolutely remarkable.
“Ball striking of the highest quality. He went toe-to-toe with the defending champion and took him down after four hours and nine minutes.”
Darren Walton believes Djokovic’s performance not only put an exclamation point on his GOAT status in tennis, but now he can lay claim to being the greatest sportsmen of all time.
Former British number one Annabel Croft was also struggling to find superlatives to do justice to Djokovic’s awesome feat.
“I am speechless. That was an extraordinary contest, totally absorbing to watch,” Croft said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
“So fascinating in terms of the tactics. Sinner was so clinical in the first set and Djokovic came out swinging after, throwing the kitchen sink at Sinner.
“Beautiful serving, the odd serve and volley, this is one of the most special contests.
“We were treated earlier with Alcaraz and Zverev, now Djokovic giving away 14 years to his opponent. What a contest.”
Experts and pundits flooded social media with praise, shock and awe at Djokovic’s brilliant display to leave him one win away from a 25th career Grand Slam and 11th at the Australian Open.
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