Novak Djokovic's Australia streak ends with United Cup loss

Field Level Media|published: Wed 3rd January, 10:55 2024

Sep 6, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a forehand against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain (not pictured) on day seven of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. credits: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Alex de Minaur stunned Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 in singles play Wednesday to send 15th-seeded Australia to its first appearance in the United Cup semifinals.

Playing in Perth, Djokovic lost in Australia for the first time since Hyeon Chung eliminated him in the quarterfinals at the 2018 Australian Open.

Ranked No. 12 in the world, de Minaur won 33 of the 34 points on his first serve to beat the world No. 1 in 94 minutes. Djokovic's Serbian teammate in the mixed event, Natalija Stevanovic, fell 6-1, 6-1 to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Australia also claimed the mixed-doubles match for a 3-0 win.

No. 1 seed Poland advanced to the semifinals with a sweep of No. 9 China in Perth. In singles play, the tandem of Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek led Poland to its second consecutive United Cup semis with wins over Zhizhen Zhang and Qinwen Zheng, respectively.

Greece advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win against Canada in Sydney.

Stefanos Tsitsipas topped Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3, and Maria Sakkari defeated Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (2), 6-3. The second-seeded Greeks also prevailed in mixed doubles as the seventh-seeded Canadians were ousted.

—Field Level Media