WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic seemed as if he had been a bit stunned by the query.

And possibly he ought to have been.

The question, primarily, was this: Are you the favourite to win the championship at Wimbledon? Now, certain, there's some work to be accomplished to gather that trophy.

First Djokovic, 36, must beat No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner, 21, on Friday in what represents the biggest age hole between two males’s semifinalists on the All England Club within the skilled period, which started in 1968.

And after that, Djokovic would wish to beat the winner of that day’s different match - No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev - within the last on Sunday.

This, then, was Djokovic’s reply: “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite.”

What Djokovic might need been forgiven for saying, however was too well mannered to, was: “Come on, my friend. Is that really what you want to ask? Of course I expect to win the title. And you should expect me to win the title. And everybody should expect me to win the title.”

Start by taking a look at his accomplishments relative to the opposite three males nonetheless round on the grass-court Grand Slam event:

-Djokovic has received seven Wimbledon titles. The different three guys have received a complete of zero.

-Djokovic has reached his twelfth Wimbledon semifinal. The different three guys have by no means performed in a single.

-Djokovic has received a males’s-record 23 Grand Slam titles, together with each to this point this 12 months. The different three guys have received a complete of two: Medvedev on the 2021 U.S. Open, Alcaraz on the 2022 U.S. Open.

-Djokovic can be taking part in his forty sixth main semifinal on Friday, equaling Roger Federer’s file for males. The different three guys have raised their mixed whole to 10: Medvedev is into his sixth, Alcaraz his third, Sinner his first.

And then there’s additionally this: Djokovic is a mixed 12-5 in opposition to the opposite three guys head-to-head. He leads Sinner 2-0, together with a win in final 12 months’s Wimbledon quarterfinals. Sinner took the primary two units in that one however blew the massive lead and misplaced in 5.

After eliminating No. 7 Andrey Rublev within the quarterfinals Tuesday, Djokovic was requested throughout his on-court interview what it feels wish to consistently be the participant each else is concentrated on attempting to beat.

“I know they want … to win,” he mentioned. “But it ain’t happening. Still.”

One factor working in Djokovic’s favor lately, in contrast to throughout most of his time on tour, is he not must take care of Federer, who introduced his retirement final 12 months, and at the moment doesn't want to fret about Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined since January with a nasty hip and indicated that, if he is ready to return to competitors, 2024 can be his last season.

Next to attempt to remedy Djokovic, who has received 26 consecutive Grand Slam matches total and 33 in a row at Wimbledon, can be Sinner, thought of one of many main members of the game’s subsequent era.

Djokovic‘s scouting report on Sinner: “He’s so young, so of course it’s expected that he’s going to improve. He is improving, no doubt, I think, with the serve. He’s been serving better. On grass, obviously, (that) makes a difference. He’s a very complete player.”

Sinner’s description of going through Djokovic: “It is also a little bit mental, no? If you play against Novak, it’s always tough to play … especially (at) Grand Slams.”

At 20, Alcaraz is even youthful than Sinner, in opposition to whom he's already growing a rivalry due to some stirring matches between them. And Alcaraz has achieved extra to this point. But he needs to do way more within the sport.

He and Medvedev, 27, provide contrasting types that might produce a scintillating matchup. Still, all eyes on Friday - and, most assume, Sunday, too - can be on Djokovic.

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