Novak Djokovic has had a favorite line lately, in which he reminds anyone with a short memory that he hadn’t lost since July, ever since the epic five-set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. 

He can’t say that anymore. Playing in front of a raucous hometown crowd, Jannik Sinner of Italy knocked off Djokovic in three sets Tuesday night at the ATP Tour Finals in Turin. 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2). Here’s how it happened. 

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Indoors at the ATP Finals, where Novak Djokovic’s dominance finds another level

What happened

Sinner, 22,  beat Djokovic at his own game, winning baseline battles and in tight moments riding the strength of his powerful and efficient serve to outlast Djokovic, who has had a nasty habit this year of pummeling much younger opponents into exhaustion and cramps. He did that Sunday night against Holger Rune of Denmark, who faded down the stretch of their three-set duel. 

What it means 

The loss puts Djokovic on the edge of elimination from the season-ending tour championship, a round-robin format with eight players divided into two groups of four, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals. Djokovic’s group consists of Sinner, Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas. So though Djokovic lost on this occasion, he could still win the tournament. 

What’s next

Djokovic has already clinched the season-ending No. 1 ranking for the eighth time, but a loss Thursday to Hubert Hurkacz, who will be playing in place of the injured Tsitsipas, will end this tournament for him. Then again, Djokovic could also win three straight matches to capture this tournament and make everyone forget Tuesday night.

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Even if he doesn’t he won three Grand Slam titles, made the final of a fourth, and finished as the world No. 1. Not a bad season.

(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)