Novak Djokovic was magnanimous in defeat after his loss to a near-faultless Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals. The world No. 1 dispatched Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court, reaching his second Wimbledon final with a display of power and precision that left the 39-year-old champion struggling to keep pace.
Sinner's dominance from the start
Sinner won 45 out of 51 first-serve points, an astonishing 88% success rate, and hit 16 aces. His serve was described by Djokovic as "unpredictable" and "super solid." The Italian also struck 40 winners to just 15 unforced errors, showcasing a level of play that Djokovic admitted was a step above his own.
"It was a good old blowout," Djokovic confessed after the match. "I was just half a step late in any shot. It's as simple as that. I was not sharp enough, not reactive enough, not balanced enough to play him. He was just at cruising speed and I couldn't catch him."
Djokovic's defiance and belief
Despite the defeat, Djokovic remained unbowed. He saved three match points and forced Sinner to serve out the victory, showing a final act of defiance. In his press conference, Djokovic was generous in praise for Sinner but also insistent that he could still win grand slams in the future.
"I'm not upset with myself. I don't think I've done too much wrong. I was just a level or two worse than he is. He was playing so solid from all ends," Djokovic said.
Looking ahead
Djokovic, who spent nearly 17 hours on court at this year's Championships before the semi-final, compared to Sinner's 13.5 hours, believes he can still compete at the highest level. He pointed to his five-hour, 15-minute quarter-final marathon against Felix Auger-Aliassime as proof of his endurance.
"Ten years ago maybe," Djokovic said with a smile after Sinner fired a 125mph ace. He added that for the first time in a couple of years, he was leaving a tournament without feeling beaten up or injured, giving him hope for future slams.
Sinner's final opponent
Sinner will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final. On this evidence, it is hard to see Zverev being able to live with Sinner's serve and groundstrokes. The Italian's serve looked impregnable, and he found his groove on the ground as well.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will look ahead to the US Open in September, where he hopes to challenge for a 25th grand slam title. "If I can reach the later stages with something left in the tank, I will believe again," he said.
