Jannik Sünder beat the key weapon Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon

The first time Novak Djokovic appeared and Jannik Sünders germinating talent was aware of three years ago on the grass of the All England Club. The Italian, then only 20, stormed into a lead of two sets in the quarter -finals at the Center Court. Djokovic, who was aware of the severity of the situation, went into the bathroom under the royal box.

“I had a refreshment, a toilet break and a small PEP talk with me in the mirror,” he said afterwards. “That’s the truth.” Djokovic would win in five, with a spectacular backhand cross-court winner left him flat on his chest, the game-shot moment of the game.

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Djokovic also defeated Sinner in the 2023 semi -finals in an impressive victory with straight rates. However, this is undeniably a different scenario, about two years later. And when the two squares once and five weeks after the same match, in the same slit, in the same round of the French Open-is the world’s best player in sinners, who has a terrifying record against the Serb.

The 23-year-old, 15 years younger than Djokovic, has won his last four meetings and the last six sets in a row. The Serb, the largest men’s player who has ever played the game, has not beaten Sünder for 30 months. It is a discouraging view because the duo will reappear in its blockbuster Last four Clash on Friday afternoon.

Dispruding, but not insurmountable.

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“I lost in the pure sets of Jannik in the half area of ​​Roland Garros. I think I played a solid match,” said Djokovic after winning Flavio Cobolli in the quarter -finals against Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.

“I could have played better, but he was only the better player if the moments were important. So I get another opportunity. Hopefully I can deliver the level and be able to stay with him for possibly five sets.

“At the moment it will need the best of me to beat Jannik. I mean, I know that.”

The most important difference between this occasion and the Paris dispute in the last month is the surface under your feet.

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While sinner has the upper hand on hard and tone, he has never defeated Djokovic on grass. And we have already seen the world No. 1 at the receiving end of an almighty repery this year, since in the fourth round he has a two set deficit to Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round before the Bulgarian had to retire painfully.

Simply put, it makes sinners vulnerable. The shades of the grass court movement, slipping and gliding at the court of the court in the course of the tournament are a delicate art. It is one that Djokovic mastered in his 20-year career before his 14th Wimbledon semi-final.

In addition, there is the equation that the Italian breastfeeds an elbow injury to Dimitrov, and it makes it beat. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Djokovic himself will recover from his late autumn against Cobolli, even though the Serbs fit and fights when earlier powers of recovery are recorded.

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“I and Novak, we know each other better because we played a lot,” said Sünner after his quarter -final victory against Ben Shelton. “So we understand what works and what doesn’t.

“But yes, I’ve never won against him here in Wimbledon.”

This has a different element that goes back to Sünner’s three -month drug ban at the beginning of this season. A comfortable suspension that led to not a major. It is not common for Djokovic to be fully supported by the Center Court, but Friday could have a different feeling.

It is likely that the winner will compete with Carlos Alcaraz, with the defending champion in the first semi -final against the world No. 5 Taylor Fritz from the United States an overwhelming favorite. The last two final of the Spaniard here against Djokovic were exciting affairs. But given The Wimbledon in Roland Garros against sinners will want a piece of the next great rivalry in men’s tennis.

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Interestingly, it would be a Sünd-Alcaraz repetition for the first time that the men’s final in Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2008.

But for Djokovic, who broke and improved the records of these two legends, the next few days are his best chance, a record break-25. Grand Slam to claim-and so that the oldest singles Major winner in history becomes. He admitted that he was not sure before the tournament whether this would be his “last dance” at SW19.

All chances seem to be stacked against him. But in these scenarios, Djokovic has always thrived throughout his career.

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Sinner observes a first Wimbledon final and the inevitable pressure that goes hand in hand with it. Similar to most of the latter round competitions at Grand Slam level, it is due to fine edges, but unlike Paris, Djokovic may keep the upper hand in this regard, where his well-developed shot area should be more effective in view of Sünders sticking on grass.

Djokovics variety is his key weapon. While sinners shook wonderfully five weeks ago by sinners, on the checks and the flat lining of the grass, it is another suggestion.

But the underlying feeling also remains that it could be Djokovic’s last chance. Can the Serb – the king of big moments in big games – come up with the goods one last time? We should make a cracker.