{"id":83882,"date":"2023-07-14T11:42:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T11:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/14\/novak-djokovic-meets-jannik-sinner\/"},"modified":"2023-07-14T11:42:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T11:42:48","slug":"novak-djokovic-meets-jannik-sinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/14\/novak-djokovic-meets-jannik-sinner\/","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic meets Jannik Sinner"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"With
With Sinner, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Medvedev reaching the last four, it is the first time since 2012 that the Wimbledon men’s semi-finalists are all in the top eight seeds
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Novak Djokovic believes his formidable record at Wimbledon ensures he remains the favourite to win the men\u2019s singles title going into Friday\u2019s semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Djokovic, going for a men\u2019s record-equalling eighth triumph, plays Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner at 13:30 BST.<\/p>\n

Spanish top seed Carlos Alcaraz faces Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev in the second semi-final straight after.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t want to sound arrogant, but of course, I would consider myself favourite,\u201d said second seed Djokovic.<\/p>\n

The Serb is bidding for a fifth successive victory at the All England Club, which would also see him equal Margaret Court\u2019s all-time record of 24 major titles.<\/p>\n

\u201cJudging with the results I had in my career here, previous four occasions of Wimbledon that I won, I do consider myself favourite,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The contrast of experience between Djokovic and Sinner is starkly laid bare by the statistics.<\/p>\n

Sinner, 21, reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by beating Russian Roman Safiullin, while Djokovic will be contesting a 46th major semi-final \u2013 equalling Roger Federer\u2019s all-time men\u2019s record.<\/p>\n

Djokovic is aiming to reach a 35th Grand Slam singles final, which would be an outright record and move him ahead of American Chris Evert.<\/p>\n

Djokovic, who turned 36 in May, is bidding to become the third oldest player in the Open era to reach the men\u2019s singles final after 39-year-old Ken Rosewall and 37-year-old Federer.<\/p>\n

Sinner could become the youngest man to reach the Wimbledon final since 2007, although that could later be surpassed by 20-year-old Alcaraz.<\/p>\n

\"Novak<\/figure>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a very complete player,\u201d said Djokovic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to that challenge. I\u2019m sure that he\u2019s going to be very, very motivated to win. On the other hand, I am, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

The match is also a repeat of last year\u2019s quarter-final when Sinner came close to beating Djokovic before the veteran fought back from two sets down to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a completely different match than last year,\u201d said Sinner, who is only playing in the Wimbledon main draw for the third time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows me better, as I know him better. It\u2019s going to be also a little bit tactical.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the other way, it is also going to be a little bit mental. It\u2019s always tough to play against Novak, especially at Grand Slams.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m happy. I will fight for every ball. I will enjoy the moment, but knowing that I can go hard and trying to beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alcaraz excited to face \u2018octopus\u2019 Medvedev<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even if Djokovic does beat Sinner, there is still guaranteed to be a first-time Wimbledon finalist in the shape of Alcaraz or Medvedev.<\/p>\n

The pair have both won major titles on the US Open hard courts but will attempt to reach their first Wimbledon final after a summer of marked improvement at the All-England Club.<\/p>\n

Alcaraz had only played two senior tournaments on the surface going into this summer, but showed his potential by winning the Queen\u2019s title and continued to impress this fortnight.<\/p>\n

After beating fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz said it was a \u201cdream\u201d to reach the last four at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n

But the world number one knows he faces a stern examination against Medvedev, who he described as a \u201creally complete player\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think [Andrey] Rublev said a few times, he\u2019s an octopus. He catches every ball. It is amazing. He\u2019s an amazing athlete,\u201d said Alcaraz.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think a mix of everything. He does almost everything well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former world number one Medvedev also had little pedigree at Wimbledon before this year, having never previously gone beyond the last 16.<\/p>\n

Most of the 27-year-old\u2019s success has come on hard courts, notably when he won his first major title at the 2021 US Open.<\/p>\n

Grass courts have been his least successful surface in recent years, leading to Medvedev saying before the tournament he was hoping to change his fortunes.<\/p>\n

The Russian was not able to play Wimbledon last year after players from his nation were banned because of the invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always said I want to be here, I want to play. Wimbledon is an amazing tournament and I wanted to do well because it was my worst Grand Slam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never managed to get into the flow here. That\u2019s why I was really motivated this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Carlos<\/figure>\n

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