DJOKOVIC'S DOMINANCE IS AT AN END

>> SERB 'SHOCKED' AFTER FIRST DEFEAT IN SIX YEARS AT AUSSIE OPEN AS SINNER REACHES MAIDEN SLAM FINAL

- Matt Majendie

NOVAK DJOKOVIC suffered defeat at the Australian Open for the first time in 34 matches and six years, as Jannik Sinner outplayed the world No1 on the court where he has dominated most.

The Serb had been the red-hot favourite to win an 11th title in Melbourne and move past Margaret Court to a 25th Major triumph.

But the 36-year-old was out of sorts for the opening two sets and, while he saved a match point to win a third-set tiebreak, a fightback never quite materialised.

All credit to Sinner, though, who produced a scintillating semi-final performance for a deserving 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 victory to book his place in a first Grand Slam final.

Such has been Djokovic's dominance at the slams, he has often mentally beaten opponents before taking to the court. And yet Sinner, despite being vastly less experienced at 14 years his junior, was undeterred, buoyed by having beaten Djokovic twice in the space of 10 days towards the end of last season. First, the Italian won in the group stages of the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, before losing in a rematch in the final. He then denied Djokovic Davis Cup glory, results that gave him stronger mental belief going into this year.