Jannik Sinner delivered a masterful performance to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday, ending the Serbian's quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. The top seed will now face second seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final after Zverev defeated Arthur Fery 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 earlier in the day.
Sinner's dominance from the baseline
Sinner, 23, showcased his improved serve throughout the match, facing only one break point—at 2-1 in the third set—which he saved with an ace down the T. He then fired two more brilliant serves to hold. The Italian's backhand was particularly devastating, notably in the first set when he broke Djokovic at 4-4 with a series of punishing shots, including a backhand down-the-line passing shot that left Djokovic helpless.
Djokovic, 39, the second-oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist in the Open Era after Ken Rosewall, struggled with mobility and erratic groundstrokes. He had spent over five hours on court in his quarter-final against Félix Auger-Aliassime, raising concerns about his fitness. Despite serving well early, he was too passive and made unforced errors at crucial moments.
Key moments in the match
After a series of holds, Sinner seized control in the opening set. He broke Djokovic's serve at 4-4, then served out the set. In the second set, Djokovic reached 0-30 on Sinner's serve at 2-3, but Sinner's serving and two Djokovic errors saved the game. Djokovic then handed over the decisive break with an error-strewn service game. Sinner broke to lead 4-3 and closed out the set.
The third set followed a similar pattern, with Sinner breaking Djokovic's serve to lead 4-3 and serving out the match. Sinner lost just one point on his first serve in the final set and finished with 15 aces overall.
What's next for Sinner and Djokovic
Sunday's final will be Sinner's seventh Grand Slam final, and he will aim for his fifth title. He has not dropped a set since his first-round five-setter against Miomir Kecmanovic. Djokovic, meanwhile, will reflect on a remarkable run at 39, having reached the semi-finals despite physical struggles. He has now lost to Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz in the latter stages of recent majors, underscoring the changing of the guard in men's tennis.
According to tennis analysts, Sinner's serve improvement has been a key factor in his success this year. He has won 80% of his service games in the tournament, the best among all players.
