For nearly two hours, Novak Djokovic, the seasoned champion, appeared to show the signs of age at 39 years old. Yet, a sudden surge of energy emerged through a powerful forehand and a clever drop shot, igniting a wave of support from the crowd chanting, “You cannot attack his first serve,” Centre Court transformed into a scene of fervent hope.
Could he possibly stage a comeback? Although Djokovic found himself two sets down and was being overpowered by Jannik Sinner, he finally earned his first break point, leaving the audience yearning for a miraculous turnaround.
On the opposite side of the court, Sinner wiped his brow as Djokovic nibbled on his lip in anticipation. Then, with a resounding crack of the racket against the ball, any glimmer of hope faded. A blistering 125mph ace zipped down the center line, prompting Djokovic to look skyward and shrug. An indistinguishable shout came from the audience, and he responded, “You can try to read it, chip it, block it, get it back in play. It’s a very unpredictable serve, great variety, great balance, great pop. “He’s using his height extremely well. Also second serve very deep in the box. A lot of rotation. He can go for speed. He doesn’t make many double faults. He’s just super solid. He backs it up with the first aggressive shot. “If you play a shorter return, you’re, again, on your back foot. It’s really, really tough to play him.” while smiling.
Sinner swiftly responded by firing another formidable 132mph ace to hold his serve, ultimately defeating Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to secure a spot in his second Wimbledon final.
Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, remarked earlier this week that the grass courts appeared to be the slowest he had ever encountered. Yet, Sinner defied that notion, winning 45 out of 51 first-serve points—an impressive 88% success rate—during this dominant performance.
One can only speculate on the havoc such a serve would have wreaked on the slick, low-bouncing grass courts of the 1990s. Adding to his performance, Sinner also delivered 16 aces.
Djokovic watched in admiration, admitting, “It was a good old blowout,”
He continued, “I was just half a step late in any shot. It’s as simple as that. I was not sharp enough, not reactive enough, not balanced enough to play him. He was just at cruising speed and I couldn’t catch him. “I’m not upset with myself. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong. I was just a level or two worse than he is. He was playing so solid from all ends.”
“If you play a shorter return, you’re, again, on your back foot. It’s really, really tough to play him.”
What could possibly hinder Sinner on this day? The heat was not a factor. Although it was 30C (86F) when play commenced at 4:20 PM, that temperature was a modest four degrees cooler than earlier in the week. Moreover, the clouds shielded the sun, providing a respite with a nice breeze across Centre Court.
Djokovic’s prowess was also not an obstacle. Critics had questioned whether Sinner’s groundstrokes would be tested, given he hadn’t faced a seeded player prior to the semi-finals. However, he proved them wrong, recording 40 winners against only 15 unforced errors.
Djokovic acknowledged, “It was a good old blowout. I was just half a step late in any shot. It’s as simple as that. I was not sharp enough, not reactive enough, not balanced enough to play him. He was just at cruising speed and I couldn’t catch him.”
“I’m not upset with myself. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong. I was just a level or two worse than he is. He was playing so solid from all ends.”
There was a final show of resistance from Djokovic as he forced Sinner to serve for the match. Nevertheless, he faced a nearly flawless performance from Sinner, who only converted three of 13 break points.
Given Sinner’s current form, it’s hard to envision Alexander Zverev, who will face him in Sunday’s final, being able to match him. Sinner’s serve seems impenetrable, and he has also found his rhythm in rallying from the baseline.
As for Djokovic, his post-match press conference was as insightful as ever. While he praised Sinner, he also expressed his belief in his capability to secure more grand slam titles in the future.
How does he reconcile this belief with his current situation? Part of the answer lies in Djokovic’s confidence in his ability to defeat anyone, as demonstrated by his grueling 5-hour 15-minute quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime, the longest in Wimbledon history.
Moreover, he noted that, for the first time in a couple of years, he was exiting a tournament without feeling physically battered or injured.
Most importantly, Djokovic still envisions a path to a 25th grand slam title. With uncertainty surrounding Carlos Alcaraz’s wrist injury and the potential challenges of the upcoming U.S. Open, he remains hopeful. Perhaps the conditions in New York this September will work in his favor against Sinner?
If he can progress through the tournament with enough energy, his belief in a comeback could reignite. After spending nearly 17 hours on the court during this year’s Championships before the semi-final, compared to Sinner’s 13 and a half hours, that belief may be difficult to sustain.
Yet, would he have a chance against Zverev if Sinner were to falter due to heat? The answer is likely yes. And that’s why Djokovic continues to fight on.
