Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner unplayable: 2-0 with Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, world and seeded number one, holds a two-set lead against Novak Djokovic, number 6 in the world and ATP rankings, in the second semifinal of the Wimbledon men’s draw, scheduled on center court at the All England Club.
After the first two turnovers, held to zero by both players, the first to break the balance was Sinner, who broke Djokovic’s serve at fifteen in the third game. L’Azzurro confirmed the break lead with a pair of aces and repeated it in the ninth game, making the first partial his (6-3).
Sinner continues to play impressively and the break comes right away in the second set as well.
The South Tyrolean snatches the serve from Nole in the second game and confirms the break at zero. Djokovic manages to break free but Sinner concedes crumbs on serve and also closes the second set with the same score: 6-3.
The one between Sinner and Djokovic is by now a classic of top-level tennis, a challenge between the new that is inexorably advancing and the old generation that has absolutely no intention of surrendering: there are no less than 9 previous matches, with a peculiar trend that sees Nole winning 4 out of the first 5 direct clashes and Jannik able instead to win 4 out of 4 from November 2023 onwards.
Djokovic won 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 at Monte Carlo 2021, 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2022, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the semifinals at Wimbledon 2023, and 6-3, 6-3 in the ATP Finals 2023. Sinner, on the other hand, won 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in the group stage of those same ATP Finals, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the Davis Cup also in 2023, 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the semifinals at the Australian Open 2024, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final at Shanghai also in 2024, and 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in the semifinals at the last Roland Garros.
