Novak Djokovic mocks Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon after Italian rival Jannik Sinner fails to take third set – as Serbian tennis superstar sails through to Sunday’s final
Novak Djokovic today closed in on a record-tying eighth title at Wimbledon and fifth in a row by beating his Italian opponent Jannik Sinner in straight sets today.
The Serbian, 36, repeatedly served his way out of potential trouble to beat Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals at SW19 on Friday.
Djokovic, who mocked the Wimbledon crowd by making a ‘cry baby’ gesture after securing victory, saved all six break points he faced – including a pair that were set points for Sinner at 5-4 in the third.
He is now into his ninth final at the All England Club. It’s also his 35th final at all Grand Slam tournaments, more than any man or woman in tennis history.
He is seeking a 24th major singles championship overall, which would set the mark for the most in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Roger Federer is the only man to have won eight singles trophies at Wimbledon. Martina Navratilova won the women’s championship nine times.
Djokovic will meet No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev for the trophy on Sunday. Alacaraz and Medvedev were scheduled to play their semifinal later Friday.
Novak Djokovic ran away with the first set as he stormed 6-3 ahead
Because of rain in the morning, all four remaining men warmed up under a closed retractable roof.
Medvedev, who hasn’t been scheduled to play on Centre Court all tournament until now, was allowed to hold his hitting session there; the three other semifinalists trained at No. 1 Court.
The game was not without controversy – as Sinner was penalised by British umpire Richard Haigh in the second set.
He said Djokovic’s roar came too late after his shot and could have put his opponent off.
Djokovic stormed across and demanded: ‘what are you doing?’, before refocusing and continuing to dominate – winning the next three points to take the game.
Sinner still has the crowd on his side, and as the undoubted undergod, is set to keep them, and they erupt whenever he steals a point back.
But while he may be behind on the court against the defending champion, Sinner still has a lot to shout about.
Jannik Sinner’s talent was neutralised by the seven-time winner
Novak Djokovic in action against Jannik Sinner
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns against Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their semi-final
Novak Djokovic after winning the second set during his semi final match
Italy’s Jannik Sinner reacts during his semi final match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic
The Italian polygot – who has his own logo – is a top 10 tennis player, was a former skiing champion as a junior, is a successful model with Gucci and even has his own dedicated ‘Carota Boys’ fan club.
One thing he has yet to do, still in the infancy of his career at 21, is find his way to a Grand Slam final. Today he has that very chance – albeit against the men’s game’s greatest ever player in Novak Djokovic.
It is difficult to portray Sinner as an unknown quantity when he is, alongside world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, the poster boy for the ‘next generation’.
Born in August 2001 in San Candido, a small town in northern Italy near to the Austrian border, Sinner grew up in humble surroundings with parents Hanspeter and Siglinde.
Sinner, who saw off Roman Safiullin to reach the last four, left home at 13 to really make a success of tennis.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his Men’s Singles semi-final match
Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in a men’s singles semi-final match
Novak Djokovic of Serbia prepares to play a shot against Jannik Sinner of Italy
Jannik Sinner in action against Novak Djokovic during the Gentlemen’s Singles semi-final on day twelve of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
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