Novak Djokovic’s dreams of a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title at the age of 39 were firmly snuffed out by defending champion Jannik Sinner at the semi-final stage on Friday, as the Italian won 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Djokovic, who was seeking to go level with Roger Federer in terms of Wimbledon crowns, has struggled with fatigue during his last three Centre Court contests this year, digging deep to come through each one despite visibly fading in the closing stages.
Friday’s contest proved an altogether different matter, however, as a ruthless and clinical Sinner dispatched of the Serb in straight sets – the match time totalling two hours and 20 minutes.
Sinner, who arrived at Wimbledon this year under the cloud of his shock French Open second-round exit in May – having collapsed from 6-3 6-2 5-1 in front vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and with main rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured – has steadily built in terms of form through the tournament, peaking with this semi-final performance.
Indeed, the 24-year-old produced one of the finest serving displays of his career – consistently producing aces and unreturnable efforts – while his powerful, attacking groundstrokes repeatedly punished Djokovic, and his defence was again at a level to marvel at.
Sinner will face Germany’s Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s Wimbledon final, after the latter knocked out unlikely British hope Arthur Fery 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-4 earlier on Friday.
Sinner will contest the 2026 Wimbledon final against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Sunday
How Sinner ended Djokovic’s Wimbledon dream
A tight enough first set was most noteworthy for Sinner’s exceptional serving – the Italian remarkably losing just four points on serve throughout the entire set, while he was successful seven of the eight times he rushed to the net also.
At 2-2 in the first set, Djokovic saved the first break point against him as he wrongfooted Sinner with a forehand strike and then produced an ace, but it proved little more than a stay of execution.
Four games later at 4-4, outstanding work from Sinner to win a point he had no rights to moved him to 15-30, before a vicious backhand crosscourt strike earned him two break points. Though he missed out on the first with a poor smash volley miss into the net, he claimed the second via a sensational backhand winner down the line.
Sinner served out the set with little drama, and the start to the second saw Djokovic literally get pushed back by the power and accuracy of Sinner’s forehand striking.
Sinner’s performance proved exceptional, as he lost just four points on serve through the entire first set
Sinner came under a touch of pressure in the third game at 15-30 down on serve – something which brought palpable anticipation – but responded with a 133mph ace, immediately celebrating up to his box in an acknowledgement of how big the moment was.
Again, as in the first set, Sinner carved out break point chances at 2-2 – two this time at 15-40 – but for what would prove the only time in the contest, the Italian failed to ruthlessly exploit a situation: Djokovic battling to and through deuce for what felt a vital hold.
The next time the Serb has serving, however – with Sinner having held from 0-30 down just prior – Djokovic was broken again as a blistering Sinner backhand strike set up two chances, with the latter taking the second courtesy of a gorgeously-disguised drop shot.
Sinner then underlined the quality of his serving with three consecutive aces in a love hold to consolidate the break.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Sinner sealed it with his fourth love hold of the match to that point, moving two sets ahead and leaving Djokovic needing something truly extraordinary to turn the contest around given the Italian’s level against him.
Djokovic toiled but was firmly second best up against Sinner on Centre Court
The third set then saw Sinner begin in ideal fashion, breaking Djokovic in the very first game.
Within it, Sinner bettered Djokovic in a baseline duel when the former injected pace into a backhand strike towards the corner which was simply too good for the seven-time Wimbledon champion, bringing up two break point chances.
Djokovic saved them both to take things to deuce, and then saved a third via a pacy first serve, but a relentless Sinner struck at the fourth attempt, forcing Djokovic to net.
Sinner quickly consolidated the break, and threatened to move 3-0 up in the third when 15-30 in front, but Djokovic battled back to get onto the board in the set.
At 2-1 in the third set, Sinner faced his only break point of the match, with the Centre Court crowd in raptures willing Djokovic to get back into things and extend the set further. Sinner’s response? To produce an unflappable ace at the most opportune moment, under maximum pressure – a champion-like moment.
That crucial hold moved Sinner 3-1 ahead and, although Djokovic avoided being broken again, the Italian never offered another opening, serving out a 6-4 third set with a nerveless love hold to seal his place in another Grand Slam final.
Djokovic: Sinner was a level or more above me
Djokovic, speaking at his post-match press conference, told media:
“It was a good old blowout. Nothing much I could do.
“I was just half a step late basically on any shot, it’s as simple as that. He was just a level or more better than I was.
“I was just not sharp enough, not reactive enough, not balanced enough to play him. That’s it. There’s not much I could do on the court.
Djokovic conceded at his post-match press conference Sinner was ‘a level or more’ above him
“I was okay, feeling physically fine, maybe not the freshest, obviously, like at the beginning of the tournament, but I was physically all right. He was the much better player on the court and was the dominant force.
“You just have to hand it to him and say: Congrats, well done.
“Of course, I’m disappointed. Of course, I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s the reason why I’m still pushing myself so hard. But I just lost to a better player. I have to accept it.
“I mean, he was playing so solid from all ends. His serve is very difficult to read. It’s become an incredible weapon over the last couple years since he changed his technique.
“He’s as solid as anyone really from back of the court. That’s it.”
Sinner: I knew I had to raise my level today
Sinner, speaking courtside after victory, said:
“Playing against Novak, we always have very tough matches, and the last one he won in the semis in Australia. I tried to make make some adjustments, even though here on grass it’s very difficult.
“I tried to stick to being aggressive, serving very well which helped me today.
“From my point of view, he’s the best returner we have in the game, so I tried to mix it up and I’m very happy about today’s performance.
“I think mentally I knew that I needed to level up. I’ve done it today. It helped me, for sure.
“I worked very hard in the past couple of days to have a good rhythm. Also, thanks to my team to put also the body and the mind in the position to be as competitive as possible.
“Against Novak, if you want to play even, you need to play your best tennis. Things could have gone in a very tough way if he breaks me in the third set, because that’s how tennis is. But I’m happy that I handled the situations as well as I could.
“Novak is so, so tough to play against because you always feel the pressure.”
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