Novak Djokovic returned to the iconic Centre Court, a venue that has significantly shaped his illustrious career, hoping to summon yet another miracle. At 39 years old, reaching another grand slam semi-final was a remarkable feat, but Djokovic’s aspirations stretched further. The key question was whether his aging body could withstand the challenge posed by the world’s top player.
The answer emerged quickly and definitively. Jannik Sinner ensured history would not repeat itself, avenging his earlier loss to Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final, delivering a commanding performance that propelled him back into the Wimbledon final with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Sinner, the tournament’s top seed, will clash with second seed and recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev, who triumphed over Arthur Fery with a score of 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4.
Sinner’s remarkable improvement in serving was on full display throughout the match, particularly when Djokovic created rare opportunities. He faced just one break point during the entire match, at 2-1 in the third set, which he successfully saved with an ace before following it up with two more stellar serves to maintain his service game.
Since his shaky five-set first round against Miomir Kecmanovic, Sinner had not lost a set and had not faced another seeded opponent. This performance reaffirmed that, following his earlier slip in Paris, he was back to an exceptionally high standard. On Sunday, Sinner will participate in his seventh grand slam final, chasing his fifth title.
On the other hand, Djokovic had endured a grueling path to become the second-oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist in the open era, following Ken Rosewall. He had navigated through three challenging four-set matches to reach the quarter-finals, culminating in an intense battle against third seed Félix Auger-Aliassime to advance.
After a demanding five hours and 15 minutes on Centre Court in his previous match, combined with ongoing physical struggles in the later stages of major tournaments over the past 18 months, concerns were valid. Although Djokovic began the match serving well, he appeared hesitant in the opening set, exhibiting erratic groundstrokes and a passive approach. Once the rally began, Sinner showcased his dominance from the baseline.
Following a series of confident holds, Sinner seized control at 4-4, delivering a return game that highlighted his exceptional backhand skills. He started by winning the first point with a stunning backhand down the line, then showcased defensive prowess with an impressive backhand while stretched. At 15-30, he moved inside the baseline and delivered a powerful cross-court backhand to claim the point. Sinner achieved the crucial break of the set on his second break point, executing a brilliant down-the-line passing shot that left Djokovic helpless. He subsequently served out the set without difficulty.
As Djokovic attempted to elevate his game and engage more actively, he found himself with a couple of half-chances on Sinner’s serve but faltered, appearing flat and inconsistent on the openings he created. Leading 2-1 and at 30-30 on Sinner’s serve, Djokovic tracked down a mediocre drop shot but failed to capitalize, netting his counter drop shot attempt and subsequently misfiring a backhand.
Another similar scenario unfolded when Djokovic reached 0-30 on Sinner’s serve at 2-3, but a combination of Sinner’s excellent serving and Djokovic’s unforced errors thwarted the opportunity. Djokovic then handed over a crucial break in set two with a series of mistakes during his service game.
Once Sinner broke serve to lead 4-3, only a physical collapse reminiscent of his French Open exit could have prevented his progress. He maintained pressure on Djokovic until the end, continuing to serve exceptionally well at critical moments, edging closer to becoming a two-time Wimbledon champion.
Even after all these years, Djokovic’s mindset remains unchanged. He enters tournaments with the intention to win, and the reality that only Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have consistently overcome him at this stage only reinforces his high aspirations.
However, as his career nears its conclusion, regardless of whether he achieves a 25th grand slam title, he will reflect on this remarkable period of his career with appreciation. A 39-year-old losing in straight sets to the world No. 1, who has been exceptionally dominant throughout the tour this year, is entirely justifiable. Everything else he has accomplished in this tournament, as well as in six of his last seven grand slam events, is noteworthy.
