Sinner defeats Djokovic and there will be a duel with Alcaraz in the final.

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There were doubts about Jannik Sinner's elbow, and many more about Novak Djokovic's response to five demanding matches and a fortuitous fall that became more pressing the following day. The former were resolved, the Italian unfazed despite wearing a protective sleeve on his right arm. The latter were also dispelled, confirmed by the Serbian's performance in the semifinal duel. Slow, tired, lacking spark, and unable to respond to the speed of the rally proposed by the world number 1. Sinner is, despite everything, a Wimbledon finalist thanks to his speed, serve, legs, and everything else. He was excellent in this semifinal, where he gave Djokovic no time to breathe, draining his reserves of energy, passion, motivation, and hunger. It was a great opportunity, but Sinner, once again himself, puts him back in his place. He's the 24-time Grand Slam champion, still very good, but no, not against him.

The Serbian has reached three consecutive Grand Slam semifinals: Australia, Paris, and London. Honorable mention for what he has achieved, because it's not just his 38 years, but also a body that, Djokovic assumed, hasn't recovered as it used to. After a lifetime of adjusting loads, diet, nutrition, rest, and breathing, there's nothing he can do against the slow passage of time. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is enough to beat 90% of the ATP Tour, especially on the green, but not for the challenge of Sinner or the tic-tac-toe.

Djokovic relies on his fantastic serve, lacking speed but with great placement, to hold as long as he can, because as soon as the ball passes over the net a couple of times, he feels the strain. His legs and hands are failing, and he can push the lines enough to overcome Sinner, who is still growing, as it were, fifteen years younger than he has played, hours, beatings, and demands. And it shows.

The best returner in the world, in history, moreover, can't find the key to Sinner's serve, who converts all his points with that shot. One hundred percent effective in the first set. And he's racking up winners almost more due to his opponent's failure than his own merit. His forehands are tight, and others aren't so tight, but he doesn't need to push too hard against this slow-moving Djokovic, who doesn't hide his lack of energy as soon as the ball isn't in his hands.

Sinner maintains his level in the second, without dropping his serving percentage or speed. Djokovic resorts to the old-school style, which worked so well in his era. That serve-at-net style, which is less tiring and which he can execute with some ease, with those tight, well-placed serves that keep him going for three more games. But there's not much else he can do. And even less so when his left leg is screaming at him to stop, massaged in the exchange of sets when it's already another 6-3 down.

As exhausted as Sinner was, he was elevated. He escaped a good one in the round of 16 against Dimitrov and returned to the imperturbability of someone moving at a higher level from then on. In the quarterfinals, Ben Shelton discovered what a revolutionized ball speed is, at 2x, like WhatsApp messages, as the American himself defined it. "His ball speed is very high. I've never seen anything like this. When you play against him, it's like seeing things at double speed. I'm well accustomed to speeds, but not this one. It's very difficult when someone hits the ball like that, and so consistently from both sides, and serving like he did."

That's what Djokovic suffered, who still drew on his pride to earn a break and start a third set with a 3-0 lead that excited the Cathedral, the seven-time champion here, and no one can and should forget it.

But Sinner wasn't up for any trouble. He accelerated again with his serve, powerful on his forehand, moving as much as he wanted to the corners, and minimized his error count, with just 16 throughout the match. In one go, six consecutive games to reach his first Wimbledon final with that air of superiority that surrounds the two protagonists of the final day. London, like Paris, will have the final he desired. Number 1 and number 2, seeking the first Wimbledon for the Italian, the third for the Spaniard, the fourth Grand Slam for the former, the sixth for the latter. With all the scores to settle between the two, 8-4 in the head-to-head, the second duel on grass after Sinner's 2022 round of 16 victory over Alcaraz, but with the Roland Garros final as a precedent. The final of all finals of this new tennis that has its Big 2 decided and confirmed.

“I always watched this tournament on television. Reaching the final is incredible. There's a lot of work with the team to get here. And it makes it even more special to have my family here. I played very well, I moved very well, and he was a little injured since the quarterfinals. I tried to stay calm and play my best tennis. And now, we'll see what happens in the final,” said the Italian. Only Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray have reached the finals of every Grand Slam, and now Jannik Sinner.

"I don't know what to expect from the final. You already saw the last one. It's an honor to share the court with Carlos. We pushed each other to the limits. He's one of the players I admire, one I follow. I hope it's as good a match as the last one, although I don't know if it can be better," he commented on the duel against Alcaraz.