Sinner dismantles under-par Djokovic to cruise into his first Wimbledon final
The world No 1 swept past Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to surge into a maiden Wimbledon final, where he will meet Carlos Alcaraz for the title
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon, 2025 © Action Plus / Psnewz
This one felt significant.
An imperious Jannik Sinner blew away an ailing Novak Djokovic to reach his maiden Wimbledon final, dispatching the 24-time Grand Slam champion 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on a hot and sun-soaked Centre Court.
It was a result and performance, from both men, that felt like a seminal turning of the tide in tennis’ generational history books.
Djokovic is, statistically, the greatest player to pick up a racquet. He has produced countless astonishing comebacks, collected record-breaking titles across every corner of the globe and exhibited breathtaking tennis that elevated this sport to extraordinary new levels.
Today, though, he was utterly outclassed by a player who bettered him in every department possible. What was most striking, however, was the physical disparity between the two men.
Sinner – 15 years Djokovic’s junior – was comfortable and serene throughout the contest, while an off-colour Djokovic wilted in the sweltering conditions.
The Serb may well have been hampered by a leg injury he sustained at the end of his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli. But even taking that into account, the nature of this heavy defeat is one that Djokovic has endured so rarely across his glittering career.
struggling djokovic no match for sinner
His win percentage on his second serve was particularly dire, at one point hovering around the 15% mark as he became almost completely reliant on making first serves in order to hold.
Sinner, meanwhile, was unwavering throughout, backing up a devastating barrage of first serves with a win percentage of 71% behind his second.
The Italian broke in the third and ninth games of a subdued and disappointing opening set, played out in front of a half-empty arena as most spectators were still out taking a breather from the heat after the first semi-final.
While there were hopes among the returned Centre Court contingent that the first stanza was simply a slow start from Djokovic – the like of which he was able to recover from against Alex De Minaur and Cobolli previous rounds – another early break in the second set fully set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
That sole break was enough for the world No 1 to cruise to a two-set lead, despite Djokovic fending off a set point to hold serve in a lengthy and laboured eighth game that epitomised the Serb’s malaise.
A medical timeout ahead of the third set compounded Djokovic’s struggles, but there were still some embers of resistance in the tenacious Serb. It took until the second game of that third set for Djokovic to earn his first break point of the match, but he made the very most of it, converting at the first time of asking en route to a 3-0 lead.
Another break point followed in the fourth game as the crowd were roused by the prospect of another epic fightback from the seven-time champion. It was short-lived, however, as Sinner saved the break point to hold before restoring parity in another desperately loose service game from Djokovic.
The relentless Italian then moved a break up in the seventh game as 3-0 for the Serb rapidly became 5-3 for Sinner.
A couple of games later, and it was over. Sinner served out a milestone victory, clinching his spot in a first Wimbledon final on his fourth match point to end Djokovic’s hopes for an elusive, and record-breaking, 25th Grand Slam title.
enthralling wimbledon final awaits as alcaraz to meet sinner
Having dominated their early encounters, Djokovic has now lost his last five meetings with Sinner as the Italian extends his head-to-head record against the Serb to 6-4.
With this latest win, Sinner has become only the fifth player to reach all four Grand Slam finals, after Djokovic himself, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
“It’s amazing, it shows I’m growing as a player on all surfaces, which is important, trying to keep going and working,” Sinner said of this feat in his on-court interview.
“I struggled a lot five years ago when I started on this surface, I couldn’t really move very well but now I’m moving much better.”
On reaching a first final at SW19, Sinner’s trademark ice-cool demeanour was temporarily betrayed by the realisation of a long-held dream.
“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,” the world No 1 told the Centre Court crowd.
“I know how much work me and my team are putting in, my dad and brother arrived today so it’s even more special, and playing here in front of you guys is amazing.”
Sinner will take on the world No 2 and his biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s showpiece. Just five weeks after their astounding Roland-Garros final, the two finest players on the planet will meet again in what is a truly thrilling prospect.
Alcaraz’s clay-court crown remained intact in Paris. Now, he will attempt to achieve the rare feat of winning Wimbledon for three years in a row. But, again, he will need to get past the most formidable of opponents in Sinner.
The stars have aligned. The stage is set. The 2025 Wimbledon final should be a seismic occasion for all to savour.
