World No 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the Wimbledon fourth round for the fifth consecutive year after a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jenson Brooksby in two hours and 13 minutes. The Italian improved his net play significantly in the second set, winning all 11 points at the net and serving and volleying four times successfully.
Sinner's net gains prove decisive
After losing the US Open final last year, Sinner said he needed to be less predictable and finish more points at the net. In the first set against Brooksby, he barely ventured forward except for a bounce smash. But in the second set, he won 11 out of 11 net points and served and volleyed four times, winning all four. "Very happy about the win," Sinner said. "Trying to improve every day. Small step forward today [but] trying to get better. If I want to go far in this tournament, couple of things I need to handle better, but all in all, very happy."
Brooksby's comeback and challenge
Brooksby, a former US Nationals junior champion at age 17, reached the third round for the second time, four years after his first visit. He received an 18-month ban in late 2023 for missing three anti-doping tests, later reduced to 13 months on appeal. Since returning in early 2025, he has climbed back inside the top 100 to his current ranking of 81. Diagnosed with autism as a child, Brooksby announced it publicly last year and has learned to enjoy big crowds. He thrilled the crowd with unorthodox two-handed slice backhands, blistering forehands, and brilliant returns.
Sinner's blip and recovery
The only glitch came when Sinner was broken while serving for the match at 5-3 in the third set, echoing his collapse at the same stage in the French Open second round last month. But he broke back immediately, cupping his hand to his ear after forcing a third match point—unusually demonstrative for him—and closed it out when Brooksby sent a forehand long. Asked about the gesture, Sinner laughed: "I don't know. Very unusual, but I needed that today. I was a break up, trying to serve out, couldn't, then had a couple of match points, couldn't use them and I tried to rush to the finish line. It helped me today."
Medvedev upset by Struff
Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff reached the last 16 for the first time with a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 7-5 win over former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev. Struff's victory adds to the tournament's unpredictability after Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal due to injury, cementing Sinner's status as the strong favourite. Sinner will next face Shintaro Mochizuki, the former junior champion who upset Spanish teenager Rafael Jódar in four sets.
