In his fifth appearance at The Championships, top seed Jannik Sinner powered past seven-time champion Novak Djokovic with a stellar 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win just five minutes short of two hours on Center Court on Friday.
In his on-court interview, the No. 1 Italian said: “It’s amazing, I can’t believe it. It’s a tournament I always watched when I was young, and I would have never imagined I could play in the final.”
He further addressed his performance against the sixth seed, stressing: “I served very well and was moving much better today. We all saw, especially in the third set, that he was a bit injured.”
Trailing by two sets, the Serbian received treatment to the area inside his leg, showing signs of discomfort.
Only 48 hours before, the 38-year-old slid and fell in his quarterfinal against Flavio Cobolli, which he won to reach a record-breaking 14th semifinal at SW19.
“He’s been in a difficult situation, but I tried to stay calm, play the best tennis I can in the important moments, and let’s see what’s coming now in the final,” Sinner added.
Following a masterclass performance against the former world number one, the 23-year-old became the second Italian player in history to reach a Wimbledon singles final - the first being Matteo Berrettini in 2021.
Moreover, he became the first player to beat Djokovic at this stage since Roger Federer in 2012.
As a result of a round display, the first two sets went the way of Sinner, who was in control from the first point he won in the match, hitting a forehand winner down the line.
The world No. 6 attempted a turnaround in the third set, gathering momentum to open a 3-0 advantage.
However, the two-time Australian Open winner’s intensity and exceptional footwork were back in full display, neutralizing all of his efforts to pocket the match in straight sets.
Djokovic knew he needed to be at his absolute best to stand a chance against such a dominant force, but then, the injury happened in the lead-up, and yet, he took his shot and made what he could with what he had against a rival in imperious form.
They exchanged heavy groundstrokes in the third, but when the Belgrade-born movement looked hampered, he didn’t even chase down the shots fired from the other side of the net; any hopes to stay alive in the match vanished.
In his post-match interview, the 100-time ATP titlist commented on the toll age takes on the body: “Reality hits me right now the last year and a half like never before. It’s tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I’m fresh and fit, I can still play very good tennis. I’ve proven that this year. Playing best of five.
“Particularly, this year has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reached the semis of every slam this year. I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, and sharp. I feel like I am going into the match with the tank half empty.
“It’s not possible to win the match like that. It is what it is. It’s one of those things you have to accept and embrace in some way. Deal with reality the way it is and try to make the most out of it.”
The San Candido native brought his A-game to the court; his ball-striking on the grass surface was flawless, painting the lines while showcasing incredible pace and weight of shot, chasing down every ball thrown at him.
Furthermore, he stayed sharp on serve, striking unreturnable serves in the process. He won 81 percent of the points on his first delivery overall, one of his best matches ever played at The Championships.
On Sunday, the 19-time ATP titlist will face title defender Carlos Alcaraz, in a rematch of the memorable Roland-Garros final.
Earlier, the Spaniard edged American Taylor Fritz in four sets to make it through his third Wimbledon semifinal in a row, extending his winning streak at the tournament to 20 matches.
Courtside, the 22-year-old shared: “This is my dream - stepping on these beautiful courts, and playing tennis in the most beautiful tournament in the world. That’s all I try to think of, and why I try to bring joy to the courts.”
Alcaraz leads Sinner 8-4 in their series; the latter has won their lone match on grass in 2022 at the venue.