The Serb can therefore still hunt for his seventh title on the sacred grass, which would put him on a level with his idol Pete Sampras. In addition, he still has a chance to win 21 Grand Slam titles. With that he would narrow the gap with Rafael Nadal: 21 to 22. But it is not yet that far.
View the match point here†
Source: Discovery+
The first set was remarkable. Djokovic played his opponent from pillar to post in the first six games. However, with a 4-1 lead, he failed to make it 5-1. Instead it went 4-2 and not much later it was suddenly 4-4. Sinner suddenly hit the balls from all sides and nole didn’t know where to look for it.
In fact, at 5-5 the Serb was broken and so the Italian was able to serve for the win in the first set. At his first set point it still went wrong, but not at the second: 7-5 for Sinner. It doesn’t happen often that Djokovic gives away the set after such a lead. He also moved and served quite moderately.
Jannik Sinner pulled out all the stops.
ANP/HH
Pink cloud
Sinner was playing the game of his life at the time. In the second set he was not impressed by the ambiance or by the six-time winner and defending champion. Djokovic broke on his pink cloud early in the second set. The Serbian number 3 in the world also choked a few times due to his mediocre drop shots, where Sinner was always on time.
Sinner went on to make it 4-2. At breaking point against, Djokovic hit an incredible ball of luck through the net. He got off very well there. A breaking point later, the break was still there: 5-2 and the Italian was able to take a 2-0 lead in sets on his own service and that too. Stunt in the making at Wimbledon?
Playing audience
In any case, outside the first five games of the match, Djokovic had not been himself at all. Djoko decided to go to the dressing room after the second set and at least came out better. For example, he got a breakpoint on Sinner’s service, but did not cash it in.
Novak Djokovic
ANP/HH
A little later and Djoko suddenly led 4-1 and started playing the crowd. He was already 25 (!) matches unbeaten at Wimbledon and wanted to keep it that way. He maintained that level and not much later it was 6-2 in the third set. Djokovic was himself again and Sinner had to experience that, because he was immediately broken again. The number 1 seeded Djokovic suddenly had time on track due to his exceptional qualities and Sinner had to watch as confidence grew.
At 5-2 it suddenly seemed to go wrong with the Italian. He stumbled and Djokovic went to look quickly, because Sinner screamed. He was able to continue, but the set was almost lost: 6-2 and therefore a decisive fifth set.
View the images of the fall here†
Source: Discovery+
The calculation could be made: Djokovic was just going to finish this. With a sublime game he put Sinner aside in set 5 and it was 6-2 quickly. Game, set and match and yet another deep bow to him.
Semi-final against Norrie
Djokovic learned later on Tuesday that Cameron Norrie will be his opponent in the semi-finals. Norrie is in the semifinals of a grand slam tournament for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old Briton achieved that feat in front of his own audience at Wimbledon. In an exciting match that lasted 3.5 hours, he defeated the Belgian David Goffin in five sets: 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Norrie and Djokovic will play their semifinals on Friday.
Global number 103 Maria (34) to semifinals
The German Tatjana Maria, the global number 103, has surprisingly secured a place in the semi-finals at Wimbledon. She was 4-6 6-2 7-5 too strong for her compatriot Jule Niemeier (22), the number 97 in the world in the last eight.
The 34-year-old Maria only reached the second round of a grand slam once in her career. She has already lost in the opening round of the last eight Grand Slam tournaments she has played.
“I have goosebumps everywhere. Today we made Germany very proud. About a year ago I was still recovering from childbirth”, said Maria, shortly after she had used her first competition point after 2 hours and 18 minutes. “It is a dream that I can experience this with my two daughters.” Niemeier ended the game on Court 1 with a volley into the net.
On Thursday, Maria will face the winner of the game between Ons Jabeur from Tunisia and the Czech Marie Bouzkova.