Wimbledon: Sinner scuppers Djokovic record bid to make final

Italy’s Jannik Sinner celebrates beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their men’s singles semifinal tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2026. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)

Reigning champion Jannik Sinner clinically swept aside record-chasing Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semifinals on Friday to set up a title showdown with Alexander Zverev.

The world number one powered to a brilliant 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory on Centre Court over the 39-year-old Djokovic, whose latest bid for a 25th Grand Slam hit a now familiar stumbling block.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Amazing. It means a lot to me that I can play one more final here. It is the most special tournament we have,” said Sinner.

FEATURED STORIES

SPORTS

SPORTS

SPORTS

READ: Zverev ends wildcard Fery’s run for his first Wimbledon final

Sinner has not dropped a set in the tournament since needing a decider to see off Miomir Kecmanovic in a rusty first-round showing after not playing a grass-court event in the build-up to Wimbledon for the first time.

The 24-year-old Italian will be favored to retain the title when he faces French Open champion Zverev in his seventh major final, after winning his last nine meetings with the German world number three.

“I feel like today I had to raise my level, which I have done,” added Sinner.

Article continues after this advertisement

“I’m happy to be back in the final and of course we hope for a good final on Sunday.”

Sinner is targeting his fifth Grand Slam title, which would bring him within two of the tally of his great rival Carlos Alcaraz, currently sidelined by a wrist injury.

Djokovic was again hoping to break his tie with Margaret Court for the all-time record of most Grand Slam singles trophies.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Top skier says Jannik Sinner’s skiing background helps his tennis

He kept that dream alive with a remarkable five-and-a-quarter-hour win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest ever Wimbledon quarterfinal earlier this week.

But the Serb did not have enough left in the tank to seriously push Sinner, who crushed 40 winners past Djokovic in a dominant performance.

“He was much better player on the court and was the dominant force,” conceded Djokovic. “You just have to hand it to him and say, ‘Congrats, well done’.”

Missed opportunity for Djokovic

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic departs centre court after losing to Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their men’s singles semi-final tennis match on the twelfth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)

Djokovic will be 40 by the time he has another chance to draw level with Roger Federer’s record eight Wimbledon titles, but he is planning to be back for another tilt.

“I would like to, at least one more time,” he said when asked if he would be back in 12 months’ time.

His last Grand Slam title came at the 2023 US Open, since when he has lost six major semi-finals, four of them to Sinner.

Djokovic managed to get the better of Sinner, who is 15 years his junior, in the Australian Open last four earlier this year, but lost to Alcaraz in the final.

“What Novak is still doing is amazing. He is a true inspiration to the next generation,” Sinner said.

“We always have very tough matches. The last one he won in the semis in Australia. I tried to make a couple of adjustments.”

READ: Novak Djokovic wins in longest Wimbledon quarterfinal ever

Sinner has bounced back impressively in south-west London over the past two weeks, after suffering a shock defeat — only his third of the year — in the French Open second round against unheralded Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

There was a low-key opening to such a high-profile match, with a large portion of the crowd yet to retake their seats following home hero Arthur Fery’s loss to Zverev in the other semi-final.

But Sinner was all business, breaking in the ninth game before serving out the first set.

Djokovic managed to stave off two break points in game five of the second set.

But it was only short-lived relief for the seventh seed as Sinner broke for a 4-3 lead before two ruthless holds to love saw him move one set from the final.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Djokovic dropped serve again in the first game of the third set, leaving Sinner to ease to victory after just two hours and 20 minutes, saving the one break point he faced.