Djokovic makes his big point

Italian Sinner was competitive but when push came to shove, it was the Serbian who held all the answers

- Rutvick Mehta

Everything you needed to know about Novak Djokovic and his monopoly at Wimbledon — or in each Grand Slam of 2023, for that matter — came in an all-encompassing fourth game of the set second in his 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) semi-final win against Jannik Sinner on Friday.

At 15-15 on his serve, Djokovic was called out by the chair umpire for hindrance after a loud, extended grunt to his backhand that snatched a point still in play away from him. Hindered and irritated, Djokovic responded with a nonchalant back-to-business rally, making Sinner run side to side and extracting an error into the net. Big point. Djoker’s serious.

Facing his lone break point of the set in that same game, Sinner made Djokovic do all the running at the back of the court this time. Hindered and challenged, Djokovic, still grunting and stretching every ounce of his body to put the ball back into play, wore Sinner down to net a forehand standing tall in defence. Big point. Djoker’s serious. At deuce and in his service routine of bouncing the ball several times, Djokovic received a time violation from the umpire. Hindered and distracted, Djokovic dished out a strong serve and cleaned it up with a winner at the net. Big point. Djoker’s serious.

If there was one factor that proved the decisive differentiator between Djokovic and Sinner on Friday, it is the Serb’s incredible ability to press a switch of his mental resolve and lift his game on the points that really matter— breakpoints, deuce, 30-alls — to flatten his opponent.