(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Jannik Sinner Stuns Novak Djokovic to Reach First Wimbledon Final, Will Face Carlos Alcaraz
Top seed Jannik Sinner delivered a commanding performance on Centre Court to defeat Novak Djokovic in straight sets and book a place in his first Wimbledon final, ending the Serbian legend’s eight-year streak of appearances in the final.
Sinner Ends Djokovic’s Dominance
In what can only be described as a changing-of-the-guard moment, Sinner handed the 38-year-old Djokovic a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 defeat, showing remarkable power, precision, and composure. The Italian, who had previously lost both his Wimbledon encounters against Djokovic, dominated from start to finish, dropping just six points on serve in the first two sets.
Djokovic, aiming to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and win a historic 25th Grand Slam, looked physically hampered and struggled to keep pace with the 23-year-old Italian.
“We hit it off from jump street,” Sinner recalled of his earlier encounters with Djokovic. “He made me laugh, I made him laugh… but today, it was all about staying focused.”
A Wimbledon Final Showdown: Sinner vs Alcaraz
Sinner will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s highly anticipated final—a rematch of their epic French Open semi-final, which Alcaraz won after more than five grueling hours on court.
The Spanish star booked his place in the final after a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory over American Taylor Fritz. Alcaraz had to dig deep in the intense heat, saving two set points in the fourth-set tiebreak to avoid a fifth set.
“Just going to be a great day, a great final,” said Alcaraz. “I’m just excited about it.”
Sinner, who is aiming to become the first Italian ever to win the Wimbledon singles title, shared his excitement after the match:
“It’s a huge honour to share the court with Carlos. We push each other to the limit. Hopefully it’ll be a great match—like the last one, maybe even better.”
Djokovic: “Playing the New Generation Is Tough”
Djokovic, who has now reached the semi-finals in all three Grand Slams this year, admitted that physical fatigue is beginning to take its toll as he battles a rising crop of younger, fitter players.
“When I’m fresh and fit, I can still play really good tennis,” he told reporters. “But playing best of five, particularly this year, has been a struggle physically.”
He hinted at a possible return but acknowledged that the challenge of keeping up with players like Sinner and Alcaraz is growing more difficult:
“The longer it goes, the worse the condition gets. I go into these matches with the tank half-empty.”
Djokovic, who received treatment at the end of the second set and skipped training before the semi-final, looked noticeably drained. Sinner, on the other hand, remained relentless—his pinpoint groundstrokes and impeccable serving keeping Djokovic constantly on the back foot.
What’s Next
As Sinner and Alcaraz prepare for what promises to be a thrilling Wimbledon final, tennis fans around the world are witnessing the dawn of a new era in men’s tennis.
Sunday’s final will not only crown a new Wimbledon champion but also highlight the fierce, evolving rivalry between two of the sport’s brightest stars.
