Jeremy Chardy doesn’t mince words about Novak Djokovic: Jannik Sinner has been warned

Excitement is building by the hour for the semifinal match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic at Wembley: yet another showdown between two tennis legends from different generations, both of whom have left their mark on the sport. At the moment, Sinner—the defending Wimbledon champion and ATP No. 1—appears to be the favorite, but Jeremy Chardy, a former French tennis player who once reached No. 25 in the rankings, has no doubts about the caliber of the South Tyrolean’s opponent, who remains a formidable opponent despite being 39 years old.

“He strikes me as a kind of superman. It’s like Cristiano Ronaldo in soccer: they’re incredible athletes who do exceptional things. When I spoke to him, I told him it pains me that he’s the same age as me but, unlike me, manages to maintain such a high level of play. I can barely move.”

“I’ve known him since we were kids, because we’re the same age,” added the Pau native, winner of the 2005 Wimbledon Junior tournament. “Even back then, he was extremely professional: he paid close attention to his physical recovery, his nutrition, and the people around him. He said he wanted to become world number one, and everyone made fun of him, calling him arrogant because Federer and Nadal were there. He wanted to become the best, and you can truly say he’s succeeded.”

The match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will be played on Friday, July 10, following the first semifinal between Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fery, and in any case no earlier than 5:30 p.m. Italian time. The two champions have faced each other twice before in the Wimbledon semifinals, with Djokovic winning in 2023 and Sinner getting his revenge in 2025.