Frustrated: Novak Djokovic © ANSA / MARTIAL TREZZINI

Djokovic loses again: This is how Sinner becomes number 1

Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic missed his first final of the year in his final form test for the French Open. This increases the chances that Sinner will be number 1 after the tournament in Paris.

24 Maj 2024

From: dpa/leo

The 37-year-old Serb lost 4:6, 6:0, 1:6 against Czech outsider Tomas Machac in the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Geneva on Friday after an inconsistent game. The 44th in the world rankings reached his first final on the ATP tour.

Djokovic gave up a 4-1 lead in the first set and had treatment towards the end of the round. After a dominant second set, he, the record winner at Grand Slam tournaments, ultimately lost clearly to the 23-year-old Machac. For the first time in 14 years, Djokovic had to admit defeat in three semi-finals in a row.

Celebrated the biggest victory of his career: Tomas Machac © ANSA / MARTIAL TREZZINI

The French Open begins this Sunday and is the second of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the season. At the most important clay court event, Djokovic will face Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round. If the Serb does not reach at least the semi-finals, Jannik Sinner will be the new number 1 in the world after the tournament - even if the man from Sexten loses in the first round.