Image: DANIEL LEAL (AFP)
Djokovic is only two successes away from his 24th Grand Slam triumph, in the semifinals on Friday Jannik Sinner is the opponent. The 21-year-old Italian defeated the Russian Roman Safiullin 6:4.3:6.6:2.6:2.
Djokovic fell behind for the first time this year at Wimbledon, but in the end it was a clear victory after 2:48 hours. Rublev played big tennis at times, but it wasn’t enough to win against the record Grand Slam winner. The sticking point in the game was the third set, when the Russian missed three break points when the score was 4: 5, while Djokovic used his fifth set point.
The “Djoker” finally reached his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, tying the record of eight-time Wimbledon winner Roger Federer. It was also the 400th Grand Slam match for the Serb – a milestone only achieved by Federer and Serena Williams. Djokovic did not want to go into detail about these impressive career marks after the game. “It’s just numbers. I don’t like to think about statistics during the tournament. I’d rather focus on the next game.”
The number two star is the clear favorite against Sinner in the semifinals. The role of the hunted and the associated pressure leave him cold. “Pressure is part of our sport, it will never go away, no matter how many Grand Slams you’ve won. It motivates me to play my best tennis. They want my scalp and want to win – but it’s not happening. Not yet,” said the 36-year-old laughs.
In contrast to Djokovic, Sinner is in a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time. “It means a lot to me. We put a lot of work into it, a lot of hours off the pitch too, a lot of sacrifices for this beautiful moment,” said the Italian. Eighth-ranked Sinner took advantage of a favorable draw in London to become the first player since Boris Becker and Pete Sampras in 1995 to reach the last four without having to face a top-50 opponent.
The success against the world number 92. Safiullin also meant that Sinner is only the third Italian overall, after Nicola Pietrangeli and Matteo Berrettini, to have reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. The most successful of his profession is now waiting there. “I know Novak hasn’t lost on Center Court for ten years, so it’s going to be a tough game,” said Sinner. “But who knows, maybe it’s my day.”
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I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
