A little over a month ago, following a straight-sets humbling at the hands of the world’s best player, Jannik Sinner, at the French Open, Novak Djokovic had been bleak in his appraisal of the match. He acknowledged he was well beaten and cast doubts over his future, even claiming he is unsure whether he will arrive in Paris to play on the crushed red brick ever again.
A rider was to come with his pessimism, though. “I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another slam,” he said.
He will have the opportunity to confirm his telling this week. Following a fortnight in which he has given the world the entire Djokovic experience – swatting aside challengers in the first week and then picking himself up after slow starts against tougher opponents – the Serb is in the semifinals of Wimbledon again, for a 14th time at SW19 and 52nd time at a Major. Up against him will be Sinner once more, in a highly anticipated encounter between the World No.1 and the seven-time former champion on Centre Court on Friday.
The Serb, on a quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, has looked more assured of his game and his tactics even when put under pressure or put through long physical tasks. Sinner arrives with the intimidating aura of his dominance, having dipped a bit.
The 23-year-old had match points in the French Open final but still lost to Carlos Alcaraz, who plays the other semifinal against Taylor Fritz on Friday. He is fortunate to have reached the semifinals altogether, after his fourth-round opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, was forced to retire despite a 2-0 sets lead after tearing his pectoral muscle.
Sinner had fitness concerns of his own after an awkward fall on his right elbow at the start of that match, and although he played his quarterfinal in a protective sleeve, his straight-sets domination of Ben Shelton on Wednesday suggested he is not physically compromised. He would later confirm as much, saying he expected to be “100% fit” for the semifinal.
Their record provides plenty of intrigue. Sinner leads 5-4; they both have won 2 matches each at Grand Slams, and the Serb beat Sinner both times they played at Wimbledon, once recovering from a two-set deficit. The more telling record, though, is of Sinner having won each of their last four meetings, a run that goes back to November 2023.
So, how exactly can Djokovic go about turning that recent record? Some answers may lie in the French Open setback.