Jannik Sinner secured a decisive victory over Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-final, winning in straight sets. This result marks Sinner’s return to the Wimbledon final, where he will face Alexander Zverev, the second seed and recent French Open champion. Zverev advanced by defeating Arthur Fery.
For Djokovic, reaching a Grand Slam semi-final at 39 years old is considered a significant achievement. However, he expressed that for him, it was “good but not good enough,” reflecting his high expectations. He acknowledged being “blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.”
Sinner’s dominant performance
Sinner’s performance was described as ruthless and efficient, avenging his earlier defeat to Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final. He demonstrated significant improvement in his serve, facing only one break point throughout the entire match. This break point, occurring at 2-1 in the third set, was saved with an ace, followed by two more strong serves to hold the game.
Since his initial five-set victory against Miomir Kecmanovic, Sinner had not dropped a set in the tournament. His strong play against Djokovic showcased his high level of performance, particularly after a setback at the French Open. This upcoming final will be Sinner’s seventh Grand Slam final, where he will aim for his fifth Grand Slam title.
Sinner took control of the first set at 4-4 with a masterclass return game, utilizing his backhand effectively. He secured the decisive break on his second break point with a powerful backhand down-the-line passing shot. He then served out the set without issue.
In the second set, Djokovic had some half-chances on Sinner’s serve but was unable to convert them due to errors. Sinner maintained his pressure, breaking Djokovic’s serve to lead 4-3, and continued to serve effectively on crucial points.
Djokovic’s reflections and future
Djokovic had a challenging path to the semi-finals, navigating three four-set matches before an epic battle against Félix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. Despite these efforts, he was unable to match Sinner’s pace, appearing a step slower and struggling with returns against Sinner’s accurate and powerful serves.
He created only one break-point opportunity against Sinner, which the Italian saved with an ace. Djokovic admitted that while he felt physically fine, perhaps not as fresh as at the beginning of the tournament, Sinner was the “much better player and was the dominant force.”
Former world number one Andre Agassi noted that Djokovic is now receiving the respect he deserves from the crowds, who chanted his nickname “Nole! Nole!” during the match. Djokovic acknowledged the support by placing his hand over his heart and waving to the crowd as he left the court.
Despite the loss, Djokovic expressed his desire to continue playing, stating he does so “because I really want to and because I still can play as a top-five player.” He will be 40 at next year’s Wimbledon, and while some believe his chance for a record 25th Grand Slam may have passed, Djokovic remains focused on what the future brings.
Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, suggested that while Djokovic could still be a threat, he might not go “all the way” in future Grand Slams. However, Djokovic continues to compete at a high level, pushing younger players to their limits.
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Source: bbc.com
