2025-07-12T22:44:33Z

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In a thrilling journey through the tournament, Jannik Sinner has emerged as a formidable contender for the Wimbledon title. Aside from a brief scare in the fourth round, where he found himself trailing Grigor Dimitrov two sets to none before the Bulgarian retired due to injury, Sinner has shown remarkable dominance on the court. He allowed his opponents to win a mere 17 games leading up to the fourth round, a testament to his exceptional skill and focus. In the quarterfinals, Sinner showcased his prowess by decisively outplaying Ben Shelton, thus setting the stage for a highly anticipated semifinal encounter against the veteran Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic, who at 38 years old has become the second-oldest men's semifinalist in the Open era at Wimbledon, faced his own challenges during the tournament. After a painful fall during his quarterfinal match against Flavio Cobolli, Djokovic appeared physically diminished. Nevertheless, he expressed admiration for Sinner's performance, acknowledging the Italian’s strength and composure throughout the match. Djokovic noted, “I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite in the final because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now.” He further complimented Sinner, saying, “But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well.”

The upcoming showdown between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is particularly significant, as they are the first two players since the legendary duo of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2008 to compete in the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. This remarkable feat underscores the intense rivalry and extraordinary talent present in today’s men’s tennis.

Regardless of the outcome, the Sinner-Alcaraz pairing reflects a historic moment in the sport, with the potential of having both players combine to secure seven consecutive major titles dating back to the Australian Open in 2024. In the Open era, only two other pairs have achieved such a remarkable streak of victories in men's majors.

Sinner, the reigning champion of both the US Open and the Australian Open, stands on the brink of capturing three out of the four major titles in men’s tennis. Achieving this milestone would put him three-quarters of the way toward a coveted career Grand Slam, a feat that highlights the significance of this tournament and adds an extra layer of intensity to his clash with Djokovic. The fact that this possible achievement may come at the expense of his toughest opponent and greatest rival thus far only heightens the stakes of their semifinal encounter.