Novak Djokovic reveals biggest 'concern' about facing Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon
Djokovic defeated Flavio Cobolli to book his spot in the last four on Wednesday as he continues his hunt for a historic 25th Grand Slam title.
The 38-year-old is set for a massive test against Sinner, with the Italian having beaten the Serbian the last four times they've met on the ATP Tour.
Djokovic triumphed over Sinner in the 2023 Wimbledon semi-finals but it's all changed since then with the veteran now behind in their head-to-head.
Since that clash at the All England Club two years ago, Djokovic has landed just one major trophy – at the 2023 US Open – while Sinner has won three.
There has been talk of Djokovic being on his 'last legs' before retirement while John McEnroe accused him of playing his 'worst set in years' during his win over Alex de Minaur in the last 16.
Speaking ahead of his showdown with Sinner, who leads the head-to-head 5-4, Djokovic said his biggest concern was about his own physicality.
'It is and it has always been my greatest goal to do well in Slams,' Djokovic said as he looks to move past Margaret Court for the most major singles trophies in the history of the sport.
'I'm, again, in another great position. Let's see. Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz, we know they're the dominant force right now in the tennis.
'If I want to at least go step further, I have to beat the No.1 in the world and eventually play Alcaraz in the final.
'Physically I hope that I'll be able to sustain that. That's more of a concern than game-wise.
'I think game-wise, the way I'm feeling the ball when I'm fit and ready, I feel like I can go toe-to-toe with those guys and even beat them if I'm playing my best.'
Djokovic, who lost to Sinner in the French Open semi-finals earlier this year, feels the 23-year-old is the best tennis player on the planet right now. More Trending
'I lost straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland-Garros,' Djokovic added.
'I think I played a solid match. I could have played better, but he was just better player when the moments were important.
'So I get another opportunity. For me, this is what counts actually the most… Being in the last stages of Grand Slams and playing against the best player in the world right now.
'Him next to Alcaraz are the leaders of the tennis today, men's tennis.'
MORE: Queen Camilla speaks with Novak Djokovic ahead of Wimbledon quarter-final clash
MORE: 'I cried' – Boris Becker reaches out to Wimbledon player after 'incredibly sad' moment
MORE: Scott McTominay reveals connection to 'one of the best Wimbledon clips of all time'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Wimbledon briefing: Day 12 recap and women's final preview
ruthlessly dispatched Novak Djokovic on Friday to set up a mouthwatering Wimbledon men's final against Carlos Alcaraz. Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek will face each other in the women's final at 4pm on Saturday, after Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool look to make British history in the men's doubles. Here, the PA news agency looks back at Friday's action and previews day 13 of the Championships. Djokovic dismantled on Centre Court Jannik Sinner ruthlessly ended Novak Djokovic's title dreams, beating the seven-time champion 6-3 6-3 6-4 in just an hour and 55 minutes. It had seemed like Wimbledon would be Djokovic's best hope of winning a 25th grand slam title, but Sinner produced a machine-like display of brilliance against an ailing opponent. Djokovic said: 'I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. He was too strong. I do feel disappointed that I just wasn't able to move as well as I thought or hoped that I would. 'I don't think it's bad fortune. It's just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.' Alcaraz eyes hat-trick Awaiting Sinner in the final is Carlos Alcaraz, who expects another blockbuster clash in the pair's gripping rivalry. The two dominant players in men's tennis over the past two years finally met in their first grand slam final at the French Open last month, where Alcaraz saved three championship points before winning an epic five-setter lasting five hours and 29 minutes. 'I'm still thinking about that moment sometimes,' said Alcaraz, who beat Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third successive Wimbledon final. 'It was the best match that I have ever played so far. 'It's just going to be a great day, a great final. I'm just excited about it. I just hope not to be on court for five hours and a half again. But if I have to, I will.' Doubles expectations Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool are bidding to become the first all-British winners of the men's doubles title since 1936. They take on Australia's Rinky Hijikata and Dutchman David Pel in Saturday's final, which for the first time takes place at 1pm before the women's singles. Glasspool said: 'I don't think at all about the two Brits winning it, it's more just Wimbledon for me. But, if I take a step back and look at the bigger picture of it then, yeah, it would be an amazing achievement.' Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid go for another men's wheelchair doubles crown while Oliver Bonding plays in the boys' doubles final alongside American Jagger Leach, who is the son of former women's champion Lindsay Davenport. Match of the day Amanda Anisimova will face Iga Swiatek for the first time as a professional in the Wimbledon final – but she has known for a decade that the Pole is a formidable foe. Their only meeting on court came nine years ago in the Junior Fed Cup, which Swiatek won. 'She was a great junior,' said Anisimova, who took an eight-month break from the sport in 2023 to prioritise her mental health. 'I remember a lot of coaches were saying that she's going to be a big deal one day. Yeah, obviously they were right. 'Iga is such an unbelievable player. She's also been an inspiration to me. Her work ethic and all of her achievements have been really inspiring. I'm sure it will be an amazing match again. Swiatek is happy to see her former junior rival back in the big time, saying: 'Anybody who struggles and gets back at a better level deserves a lot of respect.' Order of play Court One – from 11am Hewett/Reid< /strong> (1) v De La Puente/Spaargaren (2) (men's wheelchair doubles final Bonding Weather watch Sunny, with highs of 31C, according to the Met Office.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Carlos Alcaraz excited for the next chapter of his rivalry with Jannik Sinner
Two-time defending champion Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz to reach his third consecutive SW19 final, where he will face world number one Sinner in his first. The two dominant players in men's tennis over the past two years finally met in their first grand slam final at the French Open last month, where Alcaraz saved three championship points before winning an epic five-setter lasting five hours and 29 minutes. 🚨 THE REMATCH IS HAPPENING 🚨@janniksin will face @carlosalcaraz in the Wimbledon final on Sunday!@Wimbledon | #Wimbledon — ATP Tour (@atptour) July 11, 2025 On Sunday Centre Court will host the rematch, as 23-year-old Italian Sinner bids for a first Wimbledon title and attempts to gain revenge for that devastating defeat. 'I'm still thinking about that moment sometimes,' said Alcaraz. 'It was the best match that I have ever played so far. 'I'm not surprised he pushed me to the limit. I expect that on Sunday just to be on the limit, to be on the line. It's just going to be a great day, a great final. I'm just excited about it. 'I just hope not to be on court for five hours and a half again. But if I have to, I will.' Alcaraz ousted American fifth seed Fritz 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6 (6) in two hours and 49 minutes on another sweltering day in south-west London. Unlike during the earlier rounds, the 22-year-old from Spain came flying out of the blocks with a break in the first game. He raced through the first set as if he had somewhere else to be, dropping just four points on serve – and none behind his first serve – in just 35 minutes. An hour and a quarter had passed – as well as two interruptions for spectators struggling in the heat – before Fritz got so much as a look at a break point. But at 6-5 Alcaraz had one of his occasional lapses in concentration, a double fault handing Fritz three set points, and one long forehand later the match was level. However, in the third set he dropped just one point on serve and broke twice to edge back ahead with exactly two hours on the clock. The fourth went with serve – including a four-ace game from Fritz – and rumbled into a tie-break. A sizzling Fritz backhand winner helped him bring up two set points, but Alcaraz saw both off before converting his first match point. 'I mean, I had my chances, for sure,' said Fritz. 'I definitely feel like I had good looks on those points in the tie-breaker to force a fifth set. 'Obviously in hindsight I can say all the things I should have done on those points, but realistically I should have been able to get one of them, force a fifth. 'Whatever happens in the fifth, happens in the fifth. But I thought that I played a good match.'
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jannik Sinner dismantles Novak Djokovic to set up Carlos Alcaraz showdown
It had seemed like Centre Court, where he has lifted the trophy seven times, would be Djokovic's best hope of one final blow for the old guard against tennis' remarkable new kings. But Sinner took just an hour and 55 minutes to squash that theory flat, producing a machine-like display of brilliance against an ailing opponent. It's a maiden #Wimbledon final for Jannik Sinner 💥 The Italian defeats Novak Djokovic with a dazzling 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory to line up a Sunday afternoon meeting with Carlos Alcaraz 🤝 Just world No.1 doing world No.1 things 😅 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2025 Even Djokovic in peak condition may have struggled to deal with the barrage of power coming his way, but the Serbian took a medical timeout after the second set for treatment to the left thigh he had appeared to hurt in a fall late in his quarter-final win over Flavio Cobolli. The 38-year-old briefly threatened a comeback but it became clear his body was not cooperating and Sinner eased to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory that gives him a chance to bury the memory of the French Open final only five weeks later. How superbly the Italian has rebounded from letting three match points slip in that Paris thriller, a wound that might have remained open for months or even years in players lacking his mental fortitude. Instead, Sinner has put it behind him to reach a fourth consecutive grand slam final – only the sixth man in the open era to do so – and make his own piece of history. The 23-year-old's first slam final was only 18 months ago in Australia, and by completing his set in just six tournaments, he has set a new record. Sinner said: 'I cannot believe. It's a tournament I always watched when I was young and I would have never imagined I could play here in the final. 'It shows I'm growing as a player on all surfaces. 'I struggled a lot five years ago when I started on this surface. Now I'm moving much better.' For Djokovic, meanwhile, the defeat means the end of a proud run of having made the final here in every edition since 2017, while it is his first semi-final loss since Roger Federer beat him way back in 2012. Both men went into this clash with lingering doubts about their fitness, with Djokovic having cancelled his scheduled practice session on Thursday, while Sinner still wore a sleeve on his right arm following the slip against Grigor Dimitrov in round four that almost cost him so dear. Sinner had played at an exceptionally high level against Ben Shelton on Wednesday, though, and it was the same here from the start. The hundreds of players who have found Djokovic more a wall than an opponent might have enjoyed seeing the Serbian given the same treatment as Sinner secured his first break of serve in just the third game. After 33 minutes, he had taken the opening set, with Djokovic winning just two points on the Sinner serve, and the world number one extended his winning streak to five games in a row with another break early in the second set. He repelled everything Djokovic could throw at him, finding one extra ferocious groundstroke, chasing down every drop shot and staying utterly untroubled on serve. When Djokovic won the first point on Sinner's serve at 4-2, the crowd roared as if it was a break point, only for the top seed to respond with a 132mph service winner. Djokovic saved two set points at 5-2 but Sinner brushed off the missed opportunity by clinching the set in the next game with an ace. Djokovic had not shown any obvious signs of discomfort but he had lacked his usual sharpness in changing direction and he called the trainer, wincing as his leg was rubbed. The delay seemed to disrupt the rhythm of Sinner, who had dropped just six points on serve in two sets, and suddenly Djokovic had break point, converting to a huge roar. Had he taken another chance to make it 4-0, things might have played out differently, but Sinner cut out the errors that had crept into his game and Djokovic stumbled to the finish line thereafter, well aware his race was run.
