Jannik Sinner is in the final, but his first words are for Novak Djokovic

Jannik Sinner is headed to the Wimbledon final again in 2026, following a sensational three-set victory over none other than Novak Djokovic. But the phenomenal South Tyrolean’s first words after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over his illustrious rival were filled with great respect for him. He also reflected on the difficulties he faced in his very first matches this year on the London grass.

“Being back in the Wimbledon final is something special. But so is getting there after beating Novak Djokovic, given how much of an inspiration Nole is to the younger generations after everything he’s achieved in tennis,” Sinner said immediately after the match. “I lost to him in Australia, and I knew it would be tough here. I had to adapt; in fact, I tried to be aggressive and effective on my serve. After all, I was facing the player with the best return on the entire ATP Tour.”

“I managed to find the right balance, and I’m happy with how things went tonight against Djokovic. Especially since I struggled here at Wimbledon at the start of the tournament—grass changes things so much, and adapting is always crucial. They put me in the best possible position, and it’s great that I was able to raise my level of play. I’m happy to be back in the final—it feels a bit surreal to be doing this in front of so many fashion icons. But I’m a tennis player; I have to keep the ball in play,” Sinner concluded.

With this result, Sinner brings his record to seven wins in twelve head-to-head matches against Djokovic, avenging his loss in the semifinals of last January’s Australian Open, when the Serb prevailed in five sets, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. From a technical standpoint, the match unfolded similarly in all three sets: the decisive break came in the ninth game of the first set, in the seventh game of the second, while in the third set Sinner immediately broke Djokovic’s serve at the end of an extremely long first game that lasted about nine minutes, with the Serb saving three break points before finally succumbing. Djokovic deserves credit for fighting until the very end, but the South Tyrolean left him no chance, closing out the match in just under two and a half hours.

Sinner’s path to the final had not been without obstacles. Even after his quarterfinal victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, the South Tyrolean had acknowledged the difficulties he faced in the early stages of the tournament: “It was very tough against Struff; he started better than I did, and I was struggling a bit, but then I got into the match and served better. I stayed focused mentally, and I’m happy to be back in the semifinals.” A path of steady improvement, then, that reached its peak this very evening against the seven-time Wimbledon champion.

Among the weapons that made the difference against Djokovic, his serve stands out in particular, having become one of Sinner’s most evident strengths in this tournament. The Italian has recorded a total of 97 aces so far, averaging 19.4 per match, and has won over 80% of the points on his first serve: an extraordinary evolution compared to the past, the result of extensive technical work that has led to changes in footwork, ball toss, and variety of shots. It’s no coincidence that, on the eve of the semifinal, Sinner had already worked intensively on this very aspect during Thursday’s training session, which took place in sweltering heat with temperatures reaching 33 degrees.

On Sunday, Sinner will face Alexander Zverev in the final, who defeated local favorite Arthur Fery in three sets in the first semifinal of the day. For the South Tyrolean, this marks his second consecutive Wimbledon final: last year, he won the title by defeating Carlos Alcaraz 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, in one of the most thrilling finals in recent years. The player from Murcia, still recovering from an injury sustained in the spring, is the notable absentee from this year’s tournament. Sinner is therefore aiming for a repeat victory, buoyed by his consistency on the London grass, which has seen him reach the quarterfinals at the Championships for the fifth consecutive year.