Djokovic sets up Wimbledon showdown with Sinner
Djokovic was made to work for his semi-final ticket, overcoming Italy's Flavio Cobolli in four sets. Photo: Reuters
Novak Djokovic set up a mouthwatering Wimbledon semi-final against world number one Jannik Sinner as he moved a step closer to claiming a historic 25th Grand Slam title.
The Serb won 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 against Flavio Cobolli in front of Britain's Queen Camilla to reach the Wimbledon last four for a record 14th time in the men's game.
Earlier, three-time major champion Sinner eased pre-match injury fears to sweep past US 10th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 in an impressive display.
In the women's draw, five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic both reached the semi-finals for the first time and will clash for a place in the final.
Seven-time champion Djokovic was pushed hard by Italian 22nd seed Cobolli but ultimately had too much nous and craft for the 23-year-old.
"It means the world to me that I'm still able at 38 to play the final stages of Wimbledon," he said on court. "Thank you for cheering for my age. I really appreciate it. It's beautiful. Makes me feel very young."
"And I guess another thing that makes me feel very young is competing with youngsters like Cobolli today," he added.
Djokovic is now within two wins of breaking his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles for any player, man or woman.
But Sinner will offer a different level of challenge.
The top seed has won his past four matches against Djokovic, beating him in straight sets in the semi-finals of the recent French Open.
Sinner had sparked fears he may have to pull out of the tournament after falling early in his fourth-round tie against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday.
He was trailing by two sets and on the brink of a shock exit when the Bulgarian pulled a pectoral muscle while serving and had to retire.
Sinner wore a protective sleeve on his right arm against Shelton and said his injury had "improved a lot" after his practice was curtailed on Tuesday.
Carlos Alcaraz, who has beaten Djokovic in the past two finals at Wimbledon, takes on US fifth seed Taylor Fritz in Friday's other semi-final. (AFP)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
6 hours ago
- RTHK
Liverpool to retire Jota's number 20 shirt
Liverpool to retire Jota's number 20 shirt A fan adds a message to a memorial wall created near Anfield Stadium following the death of Diogo Jota. Photo: Reuters Liverpool are to retire Diogo Jota's number 20 shirt in honour of the Portugal forward who was killed with his brother Andre Silva in a car crash this month. "After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy," the club announced on Friday. "I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual," the club's chief executive Michael Edwards noted. "Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person," he added. Liverpool return to action for the first time since the July 3 tragedy at English Championship side Preston in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. A rendition of Liverpool's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" will be played prior to kick-off and Preston will lay a wreath in front of the away supporters. A minute's silence will then be observed, digital tributes displayed on the stadium big screen and on pitchside advertising boards and players from both teams will wear black armbands. Father of three Jota, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother after a Lamborghini they were travelling in came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain. Liverpool manager Arne Slot and a number of first-team players, led by captain Virgil van Dijk, attended Jota's funeral last Saturday. (AFP)
RTHK
7 hours ago
- RTHK
Alcaraz, Sinner will resume rivalry in Wimbledon final
Alcaraz, Sinner will resume rivalry in Wimbledon final It's the first time Sinner has advanced to the Wimbledon final. Photo: Reuters It is the first time Djokovic won't be in the Wimbledon men's singles final in eight years. Photo: Reuters It's business as usual for defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who reaches his third successive Wimbledon final. Photo: Reuters World number one Jannik Sinner will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster Wimbledon final on Sunday as the tennis world braces for the latest chapter in their enthralling rivalry. Sinner demolished Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in a Centre Court masterclass on Friday to reach his first Wimbledon title match and his fifth at the Grand Slams. Just hours earlier, Alcaraz – who has won the last two Wimbledon titles – reached his third successive All England Club final. The Spanish world number two battled to a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win against American fifth seed Taylor Fritz. Sinner, 23, will be desperate to avenge his painful French Open defeat against Alcaraz after squandering a two-set lead and three championship points in an epic Roland Garros final in June. Only 35 days after that five-set marathon on clay in Paris, they will meet again on the lawns of Wimbledon. Sinner and Alcaraz are the undisputed new kings of men's tennis, claiming the past six majors between them. Sinner, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, returned from a doping ban in May, losing the Italian Open final to Alcaraz before his stunning collapse at Roland Garros. Now he has a chance for revenge against the man who is the current top dog on grass. "It is a huge honour for me to share the court once again with Carlos," Sinner said. "We try to push ourselves to the limit, he is for sure one of the players I look up to. "I love watching him, what kind of talent he is. Hopefully it's going to be a good match like the last one." Sinner trails 8-4 in his head to head meetings with Alcaraz, losing the past five matches. The Italian can take heart from beating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon fourth round in 2022, his rival's last defeat at the All England Club. Reflecting on the prospect of another showdown with his arch rival, Alcaraz said: "In Paris it was the best match I have ever played so far. I'm not surprised he just pushed me to the limit. "I expect that on Sunday, just to be in the limit. It's going to be a great final. I'm excited about it. "I just hope not to be five hours and a half on court again! As I said, if I have to, I will. But I think it's going to be great." Seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic, who was not 100 percent fit after an injury in his quarter-final against Flavio Cobolli, must wait for another shot at a record 25th Grand Slam title. "It wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court. I don't want to talk in details about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best," he said. "I don't think it's bad fortune. It's just age, the wear and tear of the body." (AFP)
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Wimbledon: Sinner crushes Djokovic, setting up final clash with Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner crushed Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals to set up the latest instalment of his gripping rivalry with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final. Advertisement The world No 1 is through to his fourth successive grand slam title match – and his first at the All England Club – after a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 demolition on Centre Court on Friday. The 23-year-old will be desperate to avenge his painful French Open defeat against world No 2 Alcaraz after squandering three championship points in last month's epic Roland Garros final. Sinner and Alcaraz are the undisputed new kings of men's tennis, claiming the past six majors between them. Defeat on a baking Centre Court means seven-time champion Djokovic must wait for another shot at a record 25th grand slam title after failing in his latest bid to equal Roger Federer's record of eight men's Wimbledon crowns. Advertisement It is the first time he has failed to reach the Wimbledon final since 2017.
