Novak Djokovic Suffers Shock Defeat to Alex de Minaur in Australia
Novak Djokovic slumps to his first defeat of the season and first in Australia for six years with a stunning loss to Alex de Minaur, giving Australia a 1-0 lead over Serbia in their United Cup quarter-final.
Djokovic's Defeat to De Minaur
World No 1 Novak Djokovic faced a shocking defeat in his first match of the season in Australia. Alex de Minaur defeated Djokovic with a score of 6-4, 6-4, giving Australia a 1-0 lead over Serbia in the United Cup quarter-final.
Djokovic had been dealing with a right wrist problem in his previous match against Czech Republic. Although he received treatment for it, De Minaur managed to break his serve and clinch the opening set, ultimately leading to Djokovic's loss.
This defeat comes as a surprise as Djokovic had been on a 43-match winning streak in Australia and was preparing for the Australian Open. His last loss in Australia was six years ago to Hyeon Chung in 2018, when he was plagued by an elbow issue.
De Minaur's Reaction
Alex de Minaur, currently ranked world No 12, expressed his excitement and satisfaction with his victory over Djokovic. He mentioned that going against Djokovic requires a strong mindset and perseverance, and he was glad he was able to come out on top.
De Minaur acknowledged Djokovic's greatness as a competitor and his contributions to the sport. He described the win as surreal and amazing, and expressed his happiness to achieve it in his home country of Australia.
The victory holds significant importance for De Minaur, marking the biggest win of his career so far.
Other Results in the United Cup
In the 18-team United Cup event, Poland, the top seeds, reached the semi-finals by defeating China. Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek secured wins for the team.
Caroline Garcia and Adrian Mannarino led France to the quarter-finals with their victories over Italy in the Group D tie. Greece also took a 1-0 lead over Canada in Group B, thanks to Stefanos Tsitsipas' first singles win of the season.
