Depleted Novak Djokovic humbled by world No.1 Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon hammering
Updated . First published at
Jannik Sinner overwhelmed a not-fully-fit Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals to set up a showdown for the championship against Carlos Alcaraz.
The No.1-ranked Sinner's victory at centre court put him in his first final at the All England Club.
No.2 Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) earlier to move within one victory of a third consecutive Wimbledon title.
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Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, and Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard, now head into a rematch of their epic final at Roland-Garros four weeks ago.
Alcaraz is 5-0 so far in grand slam title matches. Sinner owns three major trophies.
Novak Djokovic gestures towards his players' box during the match. PA Images via Getty Images
They are far and away the leaders of men's tennis and are at the height of their games right now.
Alcaraz takes a career-best 24-match winning streak into Sunday.
Sinner will be participating in his fourth consecutive grand slam final, after winning the US Open last September and the Australian Open in January, before his heartbreaking defeat in Paris after wasting a two-set lead and a trio of match points.
For the 38-year-old Djokovic, his lopsided loss brought an end to his latest bid for an eighth Wimbledon title — which would tie the men's mark held by Roger Federer — and for an unprecedented 25th major trophy in all.
Djokovic was diminished two days after slipping and doing the splits on what he called a "nasty" and "awkward" fall in the last game of his quarter-final victory.
Djokovic had a tough day on court. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
He cancelled a practice session ahead of the Sinner match, had his upper left leg checked by a trainer during a medical timeout after the second set, and was simply unable to move the way the world is so used to seeing.
He's exited in the semi-finals at all three slams this season, including quitting after a set against Alexander Zverev because of an injured hamstring at the Australian Open, then losing to Sinner at Roland-Garros.
