Defending champion Jannik Sinner ended Novak Djokovic’s latest bid to claim a record 25th Grand Slam title in ruthless fashion, after a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win to set up a Wimbledon final against Alexander Zverev.
The searing temperatures of previous days dipped for the day’s semi-finals but Sinner turned up the heat on the 39-year-old Djokovic who barely laid a glove on the Italian.
Sinner will bid for a fifth Grand Slam title on Sunday while Zverev, having needed 41 attempts to win his first last month, will be seeking to complete a French Open-Wimbledon double.
For Djokovic it was a fifth loss in his last six Grand Slam semi-finals and the clock is ticking for the Serb and his hopes of moving ahead of Margaret Court on the all-time list for most major titles in the history of the sport.
After the match, Djokovic left the famous arena to loud applause and Sinner paid tribute to a player who still remains better than virtually every player in the world.
“It’s the most special tournament we have and it means a lot to me, of course, playing against Novak,” Sinner said on court.
“He is still a true inspiration not only for you guys, but also for the new generation. What he’s doing is incredible.”
Seventh seed Djokovic, who was attempting to become the oldest Grand Slam finalist since Ken Rosewall reached the 1974 US Open final, admitted there was little he could do against a rampant Sinner who is in his seventh Grand Slam final.
“Was a good old blowout, nothing much I could do,” Djokovic, who vowed to return next year for another go, told reporters. “It’s very simple. He was just a level or more better than I was. I was just not sharp enough.”
“He was at cruising speed and I could not catch him.”
Earlier, second seed Zverev put an end to the tournament’s most unexpected storyline as he snuffed out the dream run of British wildcard Arthur Fery with a dominant 7-6(0) 6-2 6-4 win to become the first German to reach the men’s singles final since Boris Becker in 1995.
“For me, I stay focused. I stay hungry. I want more. I want to continue playing at the best level and continue winning,” Zverev said. “I hope I’m able to do that, and again on Sunday I have another big chance.”
