LONDON — Jannik Sinner found himself grappling with his game a month after a dramatic exit at the French Open, while the formidable Novak Djokovic was waiting in the wings at the Wimbledon semifinals.
Despite a strong start with five victories in his title defense at the All England Club, none reflected the brilliance Sinner displayed during his remarkable 30-match winning streak earlier this season.
But what sparked the turnaround for the top-ranked Sinner, leading to an impressive performance against the seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic on Friday’s much-anticipated Centre Court showdown?
The key was revisiting familiar territory.
Instead of pushing through the grass courts, Sinner took to an indoor hard court for practice on Wednesday, according to his coaching team.
Hard courts, where Sinner clinched three of his four Grand Slam titles, offered a nostalgic backdrop reminiscent of his childhood in a quaint Alpine village nestled in the Italian Dolomites.
The decision by his coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, proved pivotal, allowing Sinner to recapture the timing that earned him a reputation as one of the most formidable baseline players in tennis.
“He’s remembered just how much power he can generate off his racket,” said Andre Agassi, who benefited from Cahill’s coaching earlier in his career.
Agassi noted how Sinner played with “absolute conviction” against Djokovic.
The remarkable improvement Sinner showcased against Djokovic was stark, especially compared to his earlier matches.
In the first round, Sinner found himself needing to rally from a set down against Miomir Kecmanovic; in the second, he faced two tiebreakers against the 48th-ranked Nuno Borges; and he dropped serve twice in the third round against Jenson Brooksky. Even in the round of 16, he endured another tiebreaker against Shintaro Mochizuki before battling through a tough quarterfinal against Jan-Lennard Struff.
However, against Djokovic, Sinner dominated, leading 40-26 in winners, committing only 15 unforced errors to Djokovic’s 23, and saving the only break point he faced with an ace.
“It was quite the blowout,” Djokovic conceded.
Agassi, a Wimbledon champion in 1992, was also known for favoring hard courts and taking early swings like Sinner.
“On grass, especially when playing aggressively, you have to read the bounce carefully, allowing yourself to wait a beat so you can hit the ball cleanly,” Agassi explained on BBC radio.
“Over time, that creates hesitation and disrupts your swing’s fluidity,” he added, recalling his own habit of seeking out hard courts during the grass season: “It’s about cleaning up your rhythm, and the best way I’ve found is to practice on hard courts, reconnecting with that feeling of conviction when striking the ball.”
Previously, Djokovic had triumphed over Sinner in a five-set thriller in the Australian Open semifinals. This time, however, Djokovic was unable to mount a significant challenge, with the match concluding in straight sets.
“He was just a level or more better than I was,” Djokovic admitted, referring to Sinner’s enhanced performance as that of a “dominant force” on the court.
Sinner’s newfound confidence was palpable, especially compared to his struggles during the French Open, where he faltered against Juan Manuel Cerundolo amidst a boiling heat wave.
Now, he stands ready to vie for his second consecutive Wimbledon title against French Open champion Alexander Zverev in what promises to be an exciting final on Sunday.
Zverev ‘a different player now’
Zverev, who achieved breakthrough success at Roland Garros in his fourth Grand Slam final, seeks to make history as the first man in the Open era (since 1968) to win back-to-back major titles at consecutive events.
However, Sinner enters the match with an impressive record, having won the last nine encounters with Zverev and not dropping a single set in their last 14 matchups.
“You can never underestimate an opponent, especially in a Grand Slam final,” Sinner remarked. “His win at Roland Garros has clearly boosted his confidence. He’s playing incredibly aggressively and is a rejuvenated player now.”
With his performance reaching the final, Zverev will leapfrog the injured Carlos Alcaraz and secure the No. 2 ranking when the new standings are published on Monday.
Sinner dazzled with 16 aces and zero double faults against Djokovic, winning an impressive 88% of points on his first serve.
“Attacking his first serve is a tough task. You can try to read it or chip it back, but he keeps you guessing with his variety and precision,” Djokovic, one of the sport’s elite returners, noted. “His serve is unpredictable, yet powerful. He’s utilizing his height to great effect.”
Djokovic also commended Sinner’s second serve, highlighting its depth and rotation.
“He can generate speed without overcommitting to double faults. He’s remarkably consistent,” Djokovic added.
The towering six-foot-three Sinner currently leads the tournament with 113 aces, while Zverev ranks fifth with 87. However, Zverev has a higher percentage of first serves in play at 74% compared to Sinner’s 66%.
When it comes to service games, the stats are closely matched: Sinner has successfully held serve in 96 of his 102 games while Zverev has managed to do so in 97.
“The dynamics of serve-return will play a crucial role,” Zverev assessed.
