By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Wimbledon—No peaks protrude from No. 1 Court but Jannik Sinner wore the glad smile of a person reaching greater floor.

Sinner repelled Roman Safiullin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to succeed in his first main semifinal at Wimbledon.

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The eighth-seeded Sinner joined prestigious firm at the moment as simply the third Italian man in historical past to succeed in the Wimbledon semifinals, after Nicola Pietrangeli in 1960 and Matteo Berrettini, who bowed to Djokovic within the 2021 closing.

The pontificate Sinner's racket is one thing to behold 💥#Wimbledon | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/5QR8bBCMp8

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2023

“It feels good. It means a lot to me,” Sinner mentioned. “Obviously, as I said on court, there is a lot of work behind this. Very happy that I can play my first semifinal here in this special place, a special surface. So let's see how it goes the next match.”

The 21-year-old Sinner is the youngest man to succeed in the Wimbledon semifinals since 2007 when a 20-year-old Novak Djokovic did it. Tomorrow, both world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz or Holger Rune, each 20 years previous, will break Sinner's mark.

Standing between Sinner and a maiden main closing is seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Reigning champion Djokovic continued his mastery of Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his forty sixth profession Grand Slam semifinal matching rival Roger Federer’s all-time report.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic rides a 33-match Wimbledon profitable streak into this semifinal rematch with Sinner.

A yr in the past, Sinner constructed a two-set lead over Djokovic within the Wimbledon quarterfinals earlier than the Serbian celebrity subdued Sinner 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to cost into his eleventh Wimbledon semifinal.

It was Djokovic’s seventh profession comeback from two units down in a Grand Slam—and his edge in expertise proved pivotal.

Contesting simply the fifth five-setter of his younger profession final July, Sinner dropped serve early within the third, fourth and fifth units and couldn't shut the hole on the champion.

So what’s modified for the proficient Italian on this semifinal rematch?

Asked how he’ll deal with closing time this time, Sinner identified the apparent problem: Building a two-set lead over Djokovic within the first place isn't any straightforward job.

“First of all, you have to go up two sets to love,” Sinner mentioned with a smile. “In the other way, it's going to be a completely different match than last year. He knows me better as I know him better also. It's going to be also a little bit tactical.

“In the other way, it is also a little bit mental, no? If you play against Novak, it's always tough to play here, especially on Grand Slams. But I'm happy. I will fight for every ball. I will enjoy the moment, but knowing that I can go hard, no, trying to beat him.”

Jannik Sinner is the youngest man to succeed in the semi-finals since 2007...

The youngest for a day anyway 😉#Wimbledon | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/RT2unB60s6

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2023

As the brand new face for Gucci, Sinner carries a Gucci bag on court docket with him nowadays.

While he’s raised his fashion recreation, Sinner says it’s all about substance in opposition to 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.

Pointing to his stronger and fitter physique, sharpened slice and higher internet play, Sinner believes he’s a extra full participant than the contender who pushed Djokovic to 5 units final July.

“For sure physically I have improved. I'm much stronger. I can stay on court for many hours without suffering,” Sinner mentioned. “Also mentally you're going in a slightly different mental side on court knowing you are also top-10 player. It is a little bit different. You might go as a favorite most of the time on the court till certain rounds of the tournament.

“Also this is different. I think also game-wise or tennis-wise I feel better. If I have to play the slice, I can play now without thinking. Before was always a little bit different. I can go to the net knowing that I have good volleys. I have some good things now in my game, and hopefully I can use it in the right way.”

Though Sinner has performed assertive tennis, he has but to face an elite participant at The Championships this month.

In reality, Sinner, who defeated No. 111 Juan Manuel Cerundolo, No. 98 Diego Schwartzman, No. 79 Quentin Halys, No. 85 Daniel Elahi and No. 92 Safiullin is the primary man to succeed in the semifinals at Wimbledon with out dealing with a Top 50 opponent since 1995 when each Pete Sampras and Boris Becker reached the ultimate 4 with out dealing with a Top 50 participant.

The query is: Can Sinner, who has practiced incessantly with Djokovic, however has but to beat him, pull off an unbelievable upset?

“Yeah, it's for sure one of the toughest, if not the toughest, challenge in front of me if Novak wins today because, as I said before, it's a Grand Slam,” Sinner mentioned. “It is a very, very important round, semifinals. He has won 23 Grand Slams. Won Australia, won Paris. He is in a huge confidence boost also.

“It's going to be tough, but I will obviously try my best, no? Last year I played a very good match against him. I have learned about it. Hopefully I can show this also on the court. I'm going to stay or I'm going to stick with my game plan in my mind, and hopefully I can execute it in the best possible way. So let's see.”

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