Jannik Sinner fell short in his bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title.
Reaching the semifinals, Sinner lost to Novak Djokovic in a five-set classic, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6.
Where does that performance rank out of Novak Djokovic’s best of all time?
The defeat was his first at the Australian Open since 2023, when he lost to the eventual finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Having been upset by Djokovic in the semis, Sinner was subjected to some fan criticism, as for the first time in a while, the world number two failed to meet expectations.
Publicly defending Sinner, another Italian Grand Slam winner, Adriano Panatta, said the following about his countryman.
Adriano Panatta ‘can no longer tolerate’ Jannik Sinner criticism
During a recent edition of ‘Domenica Sportiva’, Panatta discussed Sinner’s Australian Open defeat with Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti.
“They started attacking [Jannik] Sinner because he lost a match, but he lost it to someone who isn’t a newcomer, perhaps the greatest of all time,” said Panatta.
“It’s a horrible, bad habit that I can no longer tolerate.
“Sinner is a champion, and we should all be happy to have him in Italy.”
Panatta is right, as Sinner is the greatest player in Italian tennis history.
Italian Grand Slam winners (singles)
| Rank | Name | Grand Slam title(s) | Grand Slam(s) |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 4 | 2024 Australian Open, 2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open, 2025 Wimbledon |
| 2 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 2 | 1959 French Open, 1960 French Open |
| T-3 | Adriano Panatta | 1 | 1976 French Open |
| T-3 | Francesca Schiavone | 1 | 2010 French Open |
| T-3 | Flavia Pennetta | 1 | 2015 US Open |
The 1976 French Open champion then engaged in a humorous exchange with the Juventus manager.
“I feel sorry for your Sinner, he’s your favorite… You love Sinner much more than me, but I’ve come to terms with it now, so whatever,” said Panatta.
“Be careful, you would have always lost to him!” Spalletti replied.
“Even with a wooden racket?” asked Panatta.
“I don’t know, I don’t know with a wooden racket, but he seems like a great champion to me, just like you were,” said Spalletti.
“He’s a great champion.”
Who surprised you the most at the Australian Open this year?
Did they surprise you in a positive or negative way?
Despite his disappointing tournament down under, Sinner remains one of the most dangerous players in men’s tennis.
He may be even more dangerous now, returning to ATP Tour action with a point to prove.
What’s next for Jannik Sinner after the Australian Open?
Sinner will return to the ATP Tour at the Qatar Open.
He’ll head to Doha as the number-two seed, in a stacked field which includes three of the four Australian Open semifinalists.
Top eight seeds at the 2026 Qatar Open
- 1. Carlos Alcaraz
- 2. Jannik Sinner
- 3. Novak Djokovic
- 4. Felix Auger-Aliassime
- 5. Alexander Bublik
- 6. Daniil Medvedev
- 7. Andrey Rublev
- 8. Jakub Mensik
The prospect of another Alcaraz/Sinner final is mouthwatering to say the least…
They met six times last year, as the Spaniard won their 2025 head-to-head 4-2.
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 ATP Finals – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 7-6, 7-5 |
| 2025 US Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| 2025 Cincinnati Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 5-0 (RET) |
| 2025 Wimbledon – F | Jannik Sinner | Carlos Alcaraz | 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2025 Italian Open – F | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 7-6, 6-1 |
It’s far from a foregone conclusion that they’ll make the final, though.
Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in 2025, while Sinner has never played the event, missing out on his debut last year due to his three-month suspension.
Number-three seed, Djokovic, is one to look out for, having impressed in Australia, but even he struggled at the tournament in 2025, losing his opening match to Matteo Berrettini.
The likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, and Daniil Medvedev have all been in good form as of late and shouldn’t be taken lightly, either.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious at the 2026 Qatar Open, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Qatar Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 16
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