“I’m much stronger” – At Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner preps for the toughest challenge in tennis against Djokovic

It was just a year ago when Jannik Sinner led Novak Djokovic by two sets to love in the quarter-finals, the tennis world zooming in on what would have been a colossal upset.

“I tried my best. You know, that is all I can say,” Sinner said at the time. “Hopefully one day I can come back and play even better.”

You might also like this

Djokovic marches closer to history, defeating Rublev to reach 12th Wimbledon semi-final

tennis majors

“A lot of sacrifices for this moment” – Jannik Sinner defeats Safiullin, reaches his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon

tennis majors

A year later, that day has come. Sinner rifled past Roman Safiullin in four sets on No.1 Court on Tuesday to set a rematch with world-beating Djokovic. The 21-year-old Italian hopes that the pair’s third meeting (Djokovic leads 2-0) will be different from the first two.

“It’s going to be a completely different match than last year,” Sinner told reporters on Tuesday. “He knows me better as I know him better also. It’s going to be also a little bit tactical.

“In the other way, it is also a little bit mental, no? If you play against Novak, it’s always tough to play here, especially on Grand Slams.”

Hype Level: OFF THE CHARTS 📈🍿@janniksin | @DjokerNole#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vPZPGqbyuv

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 11, 2023

Sinner – Physically, I have improved

Sinner enters the showdown with the seven-time Wimbledon champion on the heels of a milestone. He has reached his first Grand Slam semi-final this week, after losing each of his first four major quarter-finals.

He chalks up his success in 2023, a season that has seen him put up an impressive 36-10 record, to being physically stronger and mentally more equipped to cope with the pressures of high-stakes tennis.

“For sure physically I have improved,” Sinner said. “I’m much stronger. I can stay on court for many hours without suffering.

“Also mentally you’re going in a slightly different mental side on court knowing you are also top-10 player. It is a little bit different. You might go as a favorite most of the time on the court till certain rounds of the tournament. Also this is different.”

Sinner says he is generally just more comfortable with the tools that have made him a rising force on the grass. With his win over Safiullin he improved to 9-2 lifetime at Wimbledon.

“I think also game-wise or tennis-wise I feel better,” he said. “If I have to play the slice, I can play now without thinking. Before was always a little bit different. I can go to the net knowing that I have good volleys.

“I have some good things now in my game, and hopefully I can use it in the right way.”

Grateful for moments like this, into the semifinals! 🙌🏼🦊 @Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/UiD1sYLtvw

— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) July 11, 2023

The Djokovic challenge – the toughest

Djokovic is two matches from tying the all-time Wimbledon men’s singles title record as well as the all-time Grand Slam singles title record, and Sinner knows that he will be up against an extremely fine-tuned athlete that has become virtually unbeatable on the grass.

“It’s for sure one of the toughest, if not the toughest, challenge in front of me if Novak wins today because, as I said before, it’s a Grand Slam,” he said. “It is a very, very important round, semifinals. He has won 23 Grand Slams. Won Australia, won Paris. He is in a huge confidence boost also.

“It’s going to be tough, but I will obviously try my best, no? Last year I played a very good match against him. I have learned about it. Hopefully I can show this also on the court. I’m going to stay or I’m going to stick with my game plan in my mind, and hopefully I can execute it in the best possible way. So let’s see.”