Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic to defy father time in Jannik Sinner Semi -Final – ‘You could not ask for a bigger challenge’

Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner: Much decorated veteran versus a soft -face world no.

Tennis has witnessed many of the dominant forces of the past two decades in the men’s game, in recent years, have made their emotional outputs – Roger Federer in 2022, as well as Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal last year – and at the same time the wheels were moving firmly on a ‘changing from the guard’ to the guard ‘to the guard’ to the guard ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘to the guard’ ‘guess’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘guessed’ ‘to the Guard’ ‘guess’ ” to the Guard ” guessed ”. Guard ‘.

Carlos Alcaraz has won five Grand Slams since the game said goodbye to Federer, a fifth of the career of the Swiss big and the 22-year-old has the chance to continue eating this weekend when he hunts a third Straight Wimbledon title, starting with his semi-final against Fifth Seed Taylor Fritz.

The Sinner has also confused only three large titles in the last 18 months and storms to the world NR.

Djokovic: Wimbledon ‘My Best Chance’

The 38-year-old Djokovic-De only player who did not mention Alcaraz or Sinner to win one of the last 12 Majors-Zei it himself when conquering an incredible 14th Wimbledon Semi-Final and 52nd in Slams after beating the 23-year-old Flavio Cobolli in the quarter finals.

“It means the world for me that at 38 I am still able to play the last phases of Wimbledon,” said Djokovic. “I think another thing that feels young is today competing with young people such as Cobolli. I enjoy running and sliding around the court with him.

“Speaking of young boys, I have a sinner in the next round, so I am looking forward to that.”

And Djokovic will really look forward to that, with their two previous meetings in Wimbledon – including Sinner’s Only Prior Semi -Final at the Championships in 2023 – go the Serbian road.

That said, we live in a completely different world than the one we occupied two in the summer ago, when Djokovic was a sparkling 36 and came from the Australian Open and Frans to watch a calendar lamb, and with a 21-year-old sinner at the time blissfully ignorant to the pressure of the last four of a Major.

That is very not the case now. Sinner has won three of the six Grand Slams who have been held since the beginning of 2024 and lost an epic French Open Climax in the final of another – in which Alcaraz has saved three championship points by turning a shortage of two sets.

Sinner has since also dominated his recent meetings with Djokovic and won their last four, including in straight sets in the semi-final in Roland-Garros, to now lead their right to the head with 5-4.

Change of the guard? Possible.

Djokovic knows that his chances are limited to break his draw for large titles with Margaret Court and only to establish the record on 25. He soon follows Federer, who was present for him and Sinner’s fourth round matches, in the Royal Box in contrast to it in the lead.

But he still feels that Wimbledon, where he reached the last six men’s finale, who won four, offers his best chance of noting No. 25.

‘I don’t think I’m a favorite against these guys [Alcaraz, Sinner] At the moment “Djokovic gave his quarterfinals against Cobolli.” I think they are [the favourites]. Both.

“But I probably have my best chance against them here. If it comes to me in front of one or both, which I hope it does, because it would mean that I went all the way to the final, then I will of course look for my best game to win.

“I think I have a chance. There is no doubt about it. I think my results about grass, even in previous years, are proof of my trust in this surface.”

Can the sinner overcome the elbow problem to reach the final?

By further helping Djokovic’s hope, the fact that Sinner takes care of an elbow complaint is – albeit that he did not seem to be disturbing too strong when storming along Ben Shelton in straight sets in the quarters.

The Italian had injured his judge Elleboog after slipping during the opening match of his fourth round match with Grigor Dimitrov, and had left with two sets to hold 2-2 in the third when his 34-year-old opponent himself had to pull with a breast injury.

This is a sinner who, although World No 1, wore a protective sleeve about the difficult elbow against Shelton and who did not play much this year, because of serving a three -month doping ban between the Australian Open and the French open.

However, he is as hungry as always. “I just try to put myself in these positions, the semi-final of Grand Slams, these are great occasions, great opportunities,” Sinner said for his Djokovic collision.

“I am glad that I have placed myself here in this position and to see what I can achieve. I did not win [at Wimbledon]So I want it even more.

“I always believe that you have one opponent at the same time. Hopefully I can show a good tennis in the next round. If not, it is of course impossible for me to win that match.”

Djokovic also knows that he has a fight. “It will cost the best of me at the moment to beat Jannik, I know,” said the seven-time Wimbledon winner. “You could not ask for a greater challenge.

“I lost straight sets to Jannik in the semi -final of Roland Garros. I think I played a solid game, but he was just a better player when the moments were important.

“I get another chance. For me this is what counts the most.

“It is and it has always been my biggest goal to do well in Slams. I am now again in a different great position, which is now playing against the best player in the world.

“Him next to Alcaraz are the dominant power, the leaders of men’s tennis today.”

That is, unless Djokovic can cling to the crown a little longer and continue to defy the father’s time with at least one memorable victory at his center of the court on Friday.

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