Djokovic Faces Uphill Battle at Wimbledon

Sinner Favored to Upset Champion

Novak Djokovic, aiming for his seventh consecutive Wimbledon final, faces a tough challenge as Jannik Sinner looms. According to former British No. 1 Tim Henman, Djokovic must elevate his play to avoid an early exit.

Henman’s Analysis

Henman suggests that Sinner enters their upcoming match as the favorite. Despite concerns about Sinner’s elbow, Henman notes that he has seemingly overcome those issues, displaying comfort on the court, save for the match against Dimitrov. The former British No. 1 said:

“I think Sinner goes into that match as the favourite…There were concerns over Sinner’s elbow, but he was able to raise his level. He’s looked very, very comfortable apart from that match against Dimitrov.”

—Tim Henman, Former British No. 1

Henman emphasized the players’ familiarity with each other’s styles, predicting a close contest decided by crucial moments. He also added:

“They know each other’s games so well. It’s going to boil down to those details and moments. It’s a mouth-watering semi-final. It’s such an exciting match to look forward to…So it’s going to boil down to those details of who can hit the spots, who can get on top in the rallies, who can be dictating, and when they get the chances, who can get those breaks.”

—Tim Henman, Former British No. 1

With Djokovic’s track record on grass and Sinner’s ambition to advance past the semi-finals for the first time, the stakes are high.

Djokovic’s Performance

While Djokovic secured a win against Flavio Cobolli, Henman believes a stronger showing is necessary against Sinner. Henman stated:

“You only have to be better than one player on a given day and Novak Djokovic was a little bit better than Flavio Cobolli, but I think when you analyse the performance Djokovic will know as well as anyone he’s going to have to raise his levels. When he analyses that performance, it was probably a 6.5 or 7 out of 10…when you go into a big semi-final that Djokovic has played on so many occasions, he is the type of player who really can turn it up and I think he needs to if he’s going to come out on top against Jannik Sinner.”

—Tim Henman, Former British No. 1

As Djokovic aims for another Wimbledon title, he faces a formidable opponent in Sinner, with Henman suggesting Djokovic will need to tap into his extensive experience to win. Notably, Wimbledon attendance reached over 530,000 in 2023, a record high, reflecting the tournament’s immense popularity (Wimbledon.com).