Novak Djokovic needs 'career-level performance' to overcome Jannik Sinner in Australian Open 2026 semi-finals, Jamie Murray says

It will require a "mammoth effort" from Novak Djokovic to overcome Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals, Jamie Murray believes. Murray feels the 24-time Grand Slam champion needs to display a "career-level performance" if he is to keep his hopes of a record-breaking 25th major title alive, while TNT Sports expert Tim Henman said Djokovic "has to seriously raise his game".

Jamie Murray feels Novak Djokovic needs a "career-level performance" in order to defeat two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Djokovic secured passage to the last four in Melbourne in fortuitous circumstances, having fallen two sets down to Lorenzo Musetti before the Italian was forced to retire from the match through an adductor injury.

Sinner, meanwhile, dispatched No. 8 seed Ben Shelton in straight sets, not dropping serve once to the American in another dominant performance for the world No. 2, who stretched his win streak on the blue hard courts of Melbourne to 19.

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Speaking on TNT Sports' coverage of the Australian Open, Murray said it is hard to see Djokovic finding a way past Sinner unless the 24-time Grand Slam champion finds his very best level.

"Djoko has to come with a career-level performance to beat Sinner in this form on hard courts," Murray said.

"We'll find out if he's got it in him. It's going to take a mammoth effort to get past Jannik at this stage."

Highlights: Djokovic survives huge scare to reach semis as Musetti retires when leading

Video credit: TNT Sports

Djokovic has played significantly less tennis than his semi-final counterpart, having been given a walkover into the last eight following Jakub Mensik's withdrawal ahead of the scheduled fourth-round clash.

And the Serbian only played a little over two sets before time was called on what appeared to be his impending Melbourne exit against Musetti.

Having been broken five times by the fifth-seeded Italian in the opening two sets, Henman feels there needs to be a significant step up from Djokovic, as he looks to break Sinner's dominant streak of five consecutive wins in their head-to-head record.

"I'm not looking massively into the head-to-head," Henman said. "What I am looking into is their current form.

"Djokovic has to seriously raise his game. He was very ordinary for two sets today and that's why he lost them.

"He's played okay in the previous rounds, but they were against far inferior opponents.

"If Djokovic is going to have any kind of impact against Sinner, he's going to have to play a lot, lot better."

Highlights: Sensational Sinner beats Shelton to line up Djokovic semi-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Djokovic himself was forced to retire just one set into his semi-final against Alexander Zverev last year in Melbourne - having beaten Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round in a physically taxing match-up.

After securing passage to the same stage at this year's tournament, Djokovic said Musetti was "by far the better player" and that he was "on [his] way home".

On those comments, TNT Sports expert Henman said: "He's been around for a long, long time. He's had to pull out in big matches, he obviously appreciated where his game was at, how well his opponent was playing.

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"All of a sudden, that injury has completely changed the outcome of the match, and Djokovic is not shy to express his honest feelings there."

Djokovic reached the semi-finals of every Grand Slam last season, but failed to make a single final.

His retirement against Zverev in the Australian Open semi-final was followed by defeats to Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon, and another to Alcaraz in the US Open semi-final.

'Disrespectful' - Watch as Djokovic responds to question about Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Sinner

Video credit: TNT Sports

On the prospect of playing Sinner again, Djokovic said in his post-match press conference on Wednesday: "I lost to him, I think four or five in a row.

"So yeah, he's just playing on such a high level right now, along with Carlos. They're the two best players in the world.

"[Sinner is the] absolute favourite, but you never know. Hopefully I can deliver my A-game for that match-up, because that's what's going to be needed at least to have a chance.

"I wasn't playing close to my best today, so I'm going to have to change that around."

The men's semi-finals take place on Friday, with Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina in action in the women's draw on Thursday.

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