Novak Djokovic takes on Jannik Sinner for a place in the Wimbledon final this afternoon as he puts his 33-match unbeaten run at SW19 to the test. It is six years since the Serbian last lost at the tournament, but he faces a player who very nearly ended that run 12 months ago.
Sinner was two sets up against Djokovic in the quarter-finals last year, only for the tennis great to hit back and win on his way to a fourth successful Wimbledon title. The 21-year-old heads onto Centre Court looking to become the first player to beat Djokovic on that court since Andy Murray beat him in the 2013 final.
Djokovic will not have it all his own way, even if Sinner has had a relatively comfortable path through to the last four. The Italian has not faced a seeded player over the past fortnight. Will we see a SW19 shock this afternoon? Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated blog below!
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Sinner with opening hold
Sinner 3-6 1-0* Djokovic
Winning three out of five sets against Djokovic at Wimbledon is about as difficult as it gets – Sinner has to take three of four now.
Ridiculously good return from Djokovic, right in the corner of the court, but Sinner responds with a brilliant forehand winner. Just long this time though from the Italian, 30-30 and he’s under pressure straight away on serve in the second set.
Or not. Ace. Winner. Hold.
SET DJOKOVIC!
Sinner 3-6 Djokovic
Not quite what Sinner had planned for this game. Back-to-back aces from Djokovic, who is motoring through things. Make that three in a row! Two set points for the defending champion.
One is all he needs! Sinner gets a racket on this serve at least, but can only send the backhand into the net.
Djokovic a set up on Centre.
Sinner hanging on
Sinner 3-5* Djokovic
Sinner’s swinging volley JUST about clips the baseline. Djokovic happy enough that it did, no challenge.
Bit more finesse there from Sinner, slides his racket under the ball for the drop shot, Djokovic slips behind the baseline as he looks to charge after it.
First serve cramps Djokovic up, he can’t get the return in and Sinner has done his bit. Over to Djokovic to serve for the set.
Djokovic closes in on first set
Sinner *2-5 Djokovic
Sinner runs down the drop volley from Djokovic and flicks the forehand down the line, lovely shot. Wrong-footed next point though by the net cord, tries to adjust his feet quickly but slices into the net.
A long, bruising rally, Sinner looks for even more with the forehand but it’s dumped into the net. Looks to his box and slides his feet, blaming that shot on the surface.
Mood isn’t helped as Djokovic fires down an ace and moves a game away from the first set.
Sinner stays in touch
Sinner 2-4* Djokovic
Just about room for that drop volley from Sinner, flicked over the net and Djokovic can only watch it clip the outside of the line as he chases after it. Ace to follow, 30-0.
Two forehand winners later and it’s a rapid hold to love. Sinner still in this set.
Break point saved again
Sinner *1-4 Djokovic
Too good. Sinner in charge of the point as he moves up to the net, but the forehand down the line from Djokovic is perfect.
Not so good this time from the defending champion though, slice floats beyond the baseline. 30-30, Sinner with a glimmer of hope as he tries to get this set back on serve.
More than a glimmer – backhand catches the line and Sinner has a break point. Saved again! Sinner had the court open down the line, went crosscourt with the forehand though and it’s out. Big chance missed. Deuce.
And Djokovic extends his advantage in the opening set, ace down the T seals the hold.
Sinner up and running
Sinner 1-3* Djokovic
Sinner could do with a comfortable hold here to get himself on the board. Firmly on track to do so too, Djokovic nets his return before Sinner fires down the first ace of the match.
The Italian is briefly held back as he nets another forehand, again trying to force the issue, but he gets the routine hold he was after with a superb winner. Found a lovely angle on that.
Break consolidated
Sinner *0-3 Djokovic
Brilliant backhand pass from Sinner, who has come out swinging at anything and everything.
Djokovic more measured as you’d expect, he’s working the Italian around the court in the early stages. Big second-serve return from Sinner keeps him in the game, but Djokovic finds a first serve when he needs it and leads 3-0 at the changeover.
Perfect start for Djokovic
Sinner 0-2* Djokovic
First serves out wide finding their mark early for Sinner, but they are sandwiched by a couple of unforced errors from the Italian. 30-30, pressure on his serve straight away too.
Especially now. Sinner continues to go big at every opportunity with the forehand, gets this one wrong though. Break point for Djokovic.
Taken! Ruthless from the defending champion. Not great from Sinner though, another unforced error from his forehand and it’s an early break for Djokovic.
Djokovic saves break points!
Sinner *0-1 Djokovic
Sinner has his first point of the semi-final, nice backhand pass and Djokovic at full stretch can’t get the volley back in play, and it’s swiftly followed by his second. Loose forehand from the defending champion. 30-30.
Break point Sinner! Lovely whipped forehand, lands just in. Really confident start this from the Italian. Djokovic saves thathough, his forehand catching the line and the slice that follows from Sinner drifts into the tramlines.
Another break point coming up though – superb from the Italian! Flat, clean hitting and it’s a forehand winner down the line. Again he can’t convert, dumped into the net this time.
There’s the hold for Djokovic, with the help of a framed forehand from Sinner. Some opening game that!
