Brave Sinner saves three match points, stuns Djokovic to pull Italy level with Serbia in Davis Cup semis

Jannik Sinner pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career as he beat world No 1 Novak Djokovic 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, saving three match points in the process, to pull Italy level at 1-1 with Serbia in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup.

Djokovic looked certain to win it when he led 5-4, 0-40 on the Sinner serve in the final set only for the Italian to save them all, break in the next game and then serve out for victory, handing Djokovic his first defeat in Davis Cup since the semis in 2011, ending a run of 21 straight wins. It’s also only the fourth time he’s ever lost from match point up.

Sinner said he was unsure how he won the match. “It was a roller-coaster. I started really well, he was better than me in the second set and in the third set I tried to serve well. On the match points down, I served really well. Happy to still be in the competition, we were one point from going out but now we will see what’s coming.”

Miomir Kecmanovic had earlier beaten an ailing Lorenzo Musetti to put Serbia ahead. The winners of the deciding doubles will play Australia in the final on Sunday.

The victory was sweet revenge for Sinner, having lost to Djokovic in the title-decider at the ATP Finals, but more importantly, it kept alive Italy’s chances of reaching the final for the first time since 1998.

Sinner comes out firing on all cylinders

When they played each other in the final of the ATP Finals less than a week ago, Sinner looked jaded and Djokvoic took full advantage, romping to the title for the seventh time.

In Malaga, it looked exactly the opposite in the first set as Sinner came out with an aggressive mindset, pushing Djokovic back with good serving and relentless hitting from the baseline, his backhand particularly effective.

The Italian broke twice as he moved up 4-1 and maintained the advantage, finishing off the set with an ace as he wrapped it up in 37 minutes.

Djokovic fights back in style

Djokovic tried to change the momentum, showing more energy in the opening stages of the second set. With Sinner looking a little uncomfortable with his right elbow, Djokovic was rock solid from the baseline and after forcing break point, he snatched the break as Sinner, going for power, double-faulted.

Suddenly Djokovic began to find the range on his serve and after extending his lead to 5-2, he had two set points on the Sinner serve. The Italian saved them both but after a good Djokovic return forced a third, a forehand from the Italian landed wide and Djokovic was level.

Sinner saves three match points for famous win

Sinner was struggling to find his first serve in his opening service game of the third set and Djokovic forced a break point with some outstanding returning. Just in time, though, the Italian fired three first serves, two of them aces, to shut out the danger.

Djokovic continued to pour on the pressure and though Sinner held firm, by the time the two men reached 3-3, the Italian had played 34 points on serve to Djokovic’s 14.

At 3-4, 30-30, a tired-looking forehand in the net from Sinner gave Djokovic another break point chance but the Italian burst into life, finishing a bold point with a drive volley winner. Two points later, the set was level again at 4-4.

Brilliant defence rom Djokovic forced Sinner to 0-30 and then the Italian chose the wrong way with his approach and his netted volley made it three match points. But Sinner saved them all, the third with a tough volley, to stay on terms.

Sinner had not been in any of Djokovic’s service games in the deciding set but three unforced errors from the world No 1 handed him a break point. Djokovic served and volleyed on his second serve and Sinner drove a backhand low to the feet of the Serb and threaded a forehand pass for the break, before holding serve for victory.

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