Jannik Sinner ruthlessly ended Novak Djokovic’s latest bid for Wimbledon glory with a straight-sets victory in the semi-final.
The Italian will defend his title against Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final after a clinical 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory on Centre Court.
Djokovic has reached the semi-finals or better in six of his past seven grand slams, a remarkable feat for a man who turns 40 next year.
But he cuts an increasingly listless figure at the sharp end of the tournaments, with the rigours of a fortnight of best-of-five-sets tennis taking its toll, not least that late-night, five-hour slog against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-final.
That seemed to be the story here again. Sinner has not exactly been convincing this tournament, but his relentless power and penetration proved simply too much for Djokovic.
After the fever dream that was Arthur Fery competing in the first semi-final had passed, this was supposed to be Wimbledon getting back down to business.
But the heavyweight contest, between the world number one and defending champion and the seven-time winner with 24-time grand slam titles to his name, was almost as one-sided as Zverev’s victory.
The sets were tight, the margins small, but there was an inescapable feeling that should Sinner needed to have dug deeper, he probably could have.
The London heatwave, which could have been a factor after Sinner had wilted in the blazing Paris sunshine at the French Open last month, was negated by a welcome breeze inside Centre Court.
He took the first set in 40 minutes, courtesy of a sizzling backhand winner down the line to secure the only break.
When Djokovic got a hint of a potential break in the second, at 0-30, Sinnergently squeezed on the accelerator.
A 121mph ace helped snuff out the danger, and in the next the 24-year-old broke again.
That Djokovic, who has made a career of chasing down the most hopeless of lost causes, did not even take one step forward to the drop shot which gave Sinner the break and a 5-3 lead, was telling.
The Serbian saved three break points at the start of the third set, but Sinner merely created another and dispatched it with an old-school serve and volley.
When, after an hour and 55 minutes, Djokovic got a look at a first break point, a 125mph ace whizzed past his right ear.
A 16th Sinner ace brought up match points and a commanding victory was wrapped up in an efficient two hours and 20 minutes .
A final, against a player he has beaten nine times in a row, awaits Sinner, while Djokovic must go away and contemplate another near miss.
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