PERTH – Novak Djokovic crashed to his first defeat of the season on Jan 3 and first in Australia for six years with a stunning 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alex de Minaur, who put the Australians on course for a win over Serbia in their United Cup quarter-final in Perth.
Djokovic was hampered by a right wrist problem in Serbia’s victory over Czech Republic on Jan 2 and the world No. 1 had it worked on again by a trainer before de Minaur earned a late break and went on to clinch the opening set.
Australian Open champion Djokovic dropped serve yet again to hand his opponent a 4-3 advantage in the second set and saved three match points later, but was unable to prevent the shock loss ahead of 2024’s first Grand Slam.
The Serb was on a 43-match winning streak in Australia and preparing for a tilt at an 11th Melbourne Park title, having last lost in the country to Chung Hyeon in the quarter-finals of the 2018 edition.
“I was not on my level, it was just one of these days when you didn’t feel your best,” Djokovic said.
“My opponent played very well. That’s all I can say.
“I think I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open, and that’s what matters the most at this point.
“I knew I was not going to be at 100 per cent physically, emotionally, mentally game-wise in the opening week of a season. It’s all a part of the build-up for the Australian Open, that’s where I want to perform at my best.”
De Minaur also became the first Australian player to defeat a world No. 1 since Nick Kyrgios downed Daniil Medvedev in the 2022 US Open and will carry his nation’s hopes during the Jan 14-28 Australian Open.
Ajla Tomljanovic then secured the tie for Australia and a last-four spot with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Natalija Stevanovic.
Matthew Ebden and Storm Hunter made it 3-0 after beating Nikola Cacic and Dejana Radanovic 6-3, 6-3 in the mixed doubles encounter.
Earlier, top-ranked Poland overpowered China, with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz propelling their nation into the semi-finals with a singles sweep.
The pair of straight-set victories in Perth put the tie out of reach and sent the Poles into a clash against either Norway or France in Sydney.
Hurkacz secured a clinical 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Zhang Zhizhen before Swiatek followed up, winning nine games on the trot at one point to beat Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 6-3 despite losing serve twice.
Afterwards, Swiatek admitted she was eager to get to Sydney as the first nation to qualify for the semi-finals of the 18-nation mixed team tournament.
“Bondi Beach here we come,” said the Pole, who had a surfing lesson on Dec 28 in Perth.
“I’m looking forward to a day off.”
On the win over China and swatting aside Zheng who was the 2023 WTA Most Improved Player, she added: “I’m really happy with my game, and also how the atmosphere in the team is.
“I really feel like we can just be better when we’re together, so for sure playing (with Hurkacz) is an exciting thing to do, and I’m real happy with every match that I play here.”
The two Sydney quarter-finals are played on Jan 4-5 before the semis on Jan 6 and the final a day later.
Adrian Mannarino and Caroline Garcia had pushed France into a last-eight tie against the Norwegians with victory over Italy.
After opening his season with a loss to world No. 7 Alexander Zverev, the no-frills Mannarino proved too hot for the 46th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego, winning 6-4, 6-4.
Garcia, who has slipped to 20th in the rankings after hitting a career-high fourth in 2018, then finished the job against Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Greece beat Canada as Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas won his first singles match of the season, beating Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3 before Maria Sakkari rallied past Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.
The Greeks will be up against Germany on Jan 5. AFP, REUTERS
