Novak Djokovic suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner on Centre Court, with the Italian securing victory in under two hours. The world number one dismantled the 24-time Grand Slam champion 6-3 6-3 6-4 in their semi-final clash.
The 38-year-old Serbian appeared dejected throughout the encounter as Sinner dominated proceedings. Djokovic found himself trailing by two sets after just one hour of play.
Despite showing glimpses of resistance when he established a 3-0 lead in the third set, Djokovic could not sustain the momentum. Sinner responded with a decisive run of games to seal the match and book his place in Sunday's final.
Following the defeat, Djokovic moved swiftly to dismiss any speculation about his retirement from the sport. The seven-time Wimbledon champion made his intentions clear during his post-match press conference.
Novak Djokovic left Centre Court for what may be the final time
PA
"I would be sad [if it was my last] but hopefully it's not my last match on Centre Court," Djokovic stated. "I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. I'm planning to come back, definitely, at least one more time."
The Serbian's performance appeared hampered by the after-effects of an awkward fall during his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli. Against a younger, quicker and more powerful opponent in Sinner, Djokovic struggled to match the Italian's intensity throughout the contest.
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The defeat marks Djokovic's fifth consecutive loss to Sinner, a streak matched only by Rafael Nadal in the Serbian's illustrious career. Nadal achieved the same feat between the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 Madrid Open.
Djokovic's recent struggles extend beyond his difficulties with Sinner. The Serbian has suffered back-to-back Wimbledon final defeats to Carlos Alcaraz, losing in five sets two years ago before falling in straight sets last year.
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The Serbian struggled with a groin injury throughout the match
PA
This latest semi-final exit means Djokovic will not have the opportunity to seek revenge against either of his young rivals at SW19 this year. Instead, the two rising stars will contest Sunday's championship match without the sport's most successful player standing in their way.
The stage is set for an enthralling championship match between Sinner and Alcaraz on Sunday. The two young stars have already produced memorable encounters, most notably at last month's French Open final.
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In Paris, Alcaraz mounted a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat Sinner in a five-set thriller. Their contrasting styles and fierce competitiveness have quickly established their meetings as must-watch occasions.
Djokovic believes spectators at the All England Club will witness another captivating contest between the sport's emerging talents.
Jannik Sinner will now take on Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday PA The Serbian anticipates fans will be treated to "another nail-biting clash" when the Italian and Spaniard meet on Centre Court.
With Djokovic's exit, a new generation takes centre stage at SW19, promising an exciting finale to this year's Championships.