Shintaro Mochizuki has revealed he will need to deploy unconventional tactics to unsettle Jannik Sinner in their Wimbledon fourth-round clash, admitting that standard tennis strategies are unlikely to suffice against the world No.1. The Japanese qualifier, who has reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time, described Sinner as a 'celebrity' and acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead.
Mochizuki's Unlikely Run to the Fourth Round
Mochizuki, 23, secured his place in the round of 16 by coming from behind to defeat Rafael Jodar on Friday. His journey began with a victory over British hope Max Basing in the first round, followed by a win against American Ethan Quinn. Remarkably, he has dropped only one set across his three matches—one fewer than Sinner, who beat Jenson Brooksby in straight sets on Court 1 (6-4, 6-3, 6-4).
Reflecting on his unexpected success, Mochizuki said: "It's a strange feeling to play Jannik at Wimbledon, especially now this year. I was not winning much before coming here, and I don't know how I have been winning matches here. I'm excited, but also, at the same time, I feel a little bit strange to be here in the round of 16. I just want to keep enjoying it."
Mochizuki's Unusual Tactical Approach
The Japanese qualifier admitted he views Sinner as a celebrity rather than a fellow competitor, which adds to the surreal nature of the matchup. "I don't know about him much in person. I think he's just a celebrity for me. That's why I said it feels strange to play against him," Mochizuki said. He added: "I'm sure he's going to play very quick and he's going to try to destroy me, I think. I just want to do whatever I can to, let's say, like distract him because just by hitting tennis balls, I don't think I can beat him at all. I want to do something else to make him uncomfortable."
Sinner's Path Opens Up
Meanwhile, Sinner has seen his section of the draw clear significantly after three seeded players were eliminated within two hours on Friday. The reigning champion now cannot face a seeded opponent until the semi-finals, following the defeats of Jodar, eighth seed Daniil Medvedev, and Tommy Paul. Medvedev, who was the last player to beat Sinner at SW19, lost in straight sets to Jan-Lennard Struff after squandering a double break in the third set.
Sinner, however, remains focused on his own game. "He's a very good player, especially on grass," the world No.1 said of Mochizuki. "His ball is very low, so it helps a lot. He seems like a very, very aggressive player." The Italian added: "Let's see. We haven't practiced. We haven't faced each other. Let's see what's coming. Mostly I try to focus on my side of the net. I know that's the most important at the moment. But [it was a] great win from him, these past matches, coming here. Today was a very tricky opponent and he managed to go through. [He's a] very dangerous player. I try to be as prepared as I can."
Mochizuki's Grass-Court Pedigree
Mochizuki has previous success on grass, having won the Boys' Singles title at Wimbledon in 2019. However, this fourth-round encounter represents the biggest test of his professional Grand Slam career. Despite the disparity in rankings and experience, Sinner is treating his opponent with respect, acknowledging the threat posed by the qualifier's low, aggressive style of play.
