Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev powered into the Wimbledon men’s singles final on Friday with commanding straight-set victories, ending the title hopes of Novak Djokovic and British wildcard Arthur Fery.
World number one Sinner moved within one win of a second consecutive Wimbledon title after dismantling seven-time champion Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to end the Serbian’s latest bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown.
The Italian will face French Open champion and second seed Zverev in Sunday’s final after the German swept past Fery 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-4 to reach his first Wimbledon final.
Centre Court had hoped for another chapter in Fery’s fairytale run and another vintage display from the 39-year-old Djokovic, but both were outclassed by the relentless power and precision of their opponents.
Sinner, 24, will contest his second Wimbledon final as he chases a fifth Grand Slam title, while Zverev reaches his maiden championship match at the All England Club in pursuit of his second major crown.
The Italian enters the final as the favourite, having won his last nine meetings with Zverev, including four this year. Sinner is also riding a 13-match winning streak at Wimbledon, while Zverev has won 13 consecutive Grand Slam matches.
Victory on Sunday would also give Sinner his 100th career Grand Slam match win.
“It means a lot to me to play one more final here. It’s the most special tournament we have,” Sinner said.
The world number one, who suffered an early exit at this year’s French Open, said he had raised his level after surviving a difficult first-round test.
“I knew mentally I had to raise my level, which I have done, so I am very happy.
“I’m happy where I am, happy to be back in the final and we hope for a good final on Sunday.”
Sinner will be appearing in his seventh Grand Slam final and his first since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s US Open final.
Zverev, meanwhile, reaches his fifth Grand Slam final after finally shedding the reputation of being the most accomplished player of his generation without a major title.
The 29-year-old is bidding to become only the seventh man in the Open era to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.
“Jannik won Wimbledon last year. I think the serve-return patterns are going to be very, very important,” Zverev said ahead of the final.
Just a year ago, Zverev suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech. Now he stands on the verge of becoming the first German man to win the title since Michael Stich in 1991 and the country’s first men’s finalist since Boris Becker in 1995.
Asked whether winning the French Open had given him greater confidence, Zverev replied: “Once you win a major, you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You have this feeling inside of you.”
Despite another semi-final defeat, Djokovic insisted he has no plans to end his Wimbledon career.
“I would like to, at least one more time,” the Serbian said when asked if he intended to return next year.
Djokovic, whose last Grand Slam title came at the 2023 US Open, has now lost six major semi-finals since that triumph.
For Fery, disappointment at missing out on becoming the first wildcard to reach a Wimbledon men’s final since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 was softened by a breakthrough tournament.
“I’m proud of how I handled the progression of the tournament and how I kept going in every match. It might have been just a step too far today,” said the world number 114.
AFP
