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The Economic Times
The Economic Times

Clinical Jannik Sinner demolishes Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon semi-final

Defending champion Jannik Sinner ended Novak Djokovic's ​latest bid to claim ​a record 25th Grand Slam title in ruthless fashion ​with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win to reach the Wimbledon final on Friday.

The searing temperatures of previous days dipped for the day's second semi-final 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 against Germany's Alexander Zverev ​who ended the dream run of British wildcard Arthur Fery earlier on Centre Court.

Top seed Sinner has raised his level round by ​round after a tricky start to his ⁠title defence ‌and was dialled in from the first game against ​the man ​he lost to at the same stage of ⁠this year's Australian Open.

He did not face a single ​break point for nearly two hours on Friday ​by which time he had the match under control.

Djokovic had spent 16-1/2 hours on court to make his 15th Wimbledon semi-final, including the longest match of the tournament against Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday, and his exertions finally seemed to catch up with him.

Sinner ‌pummelled a backhand winner down the line to break serve decisively in the ninth game of the opening set - ​the ball ​whizzing past a ⁠stunned Djokovic.

The 24-year-old Sinner pushed at the door in the second set and Djokovic's resistance buckled at 3-3 as the Serb was left flat-footed ​by a sublime Sinner drop shot.

The writing was on the wall when a free-flowing Sinner broke early in the third and although Djokovic fought on he wore a resigned look as his hopes of an eighth Wimbledon title ebbed away in the evening sunshine.

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