As Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fery failed in their attempts to create history, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev ruthlessly advanced to the Wimbledon final on Friday, leaving crushed dreams in their wake.
After stopping Djokovic’s most recent attempt to capture a record 25th Grand Slam victory with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 crushing of the seven-time champion, Sinner is within striking distance of winning Wimbledon for the second time in a row.
After the German second seed defeated British wildcard Fery 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-4, the Italian world number one will face French Open winner Zverev in Sunday’s title match.
The spectators at Centre Court anticipated seeing both another display of the 39-year-old Djokovic’s age-defying exploits and the most recent chapter in Fery’s incredible run.
Instead, Sinner and Zverev advanced to the final thanks to a brutally effective combination of powerful hitting and deadly serving.
While Zverev is advancing to his first showdown at the All England Club in pursuit of a second major title, Sinner will be competing in his second Wimbledon final as he pursues a fifth Grand Slam trophy.
Having defeated Zverev in his last nine encounters, including four this year, Sinner is the clear favorite going into the final.
Zverev has won his previous 13 Grand Slam matches, while Sinner has won 13 straight at Wimbledon. By defeating Zverev again in the 2025 Australian Open final, the Italian might win his 100th Grand Slam match.
“It means a lot to me to play one more final here. It’s the most special tournament we have,” AFP quoted Sinner, who crashed out in the second round of the recent French Open, as saying.
The 24-year-old Sinner will be competing in his first Grand Slam final since losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open the previous year.
In this year’s competition, Sinner and Zverev have only lost two sets apiece. The Italian defeated Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round after falling behind two sets to one.
“I knew mentally I had to raise my level, which I have done so I am very happy. I’m happy where I am, happy to be back in the final and we hope for a good final on Sunday,” Sinner said.
After finally shedding the unwelcome reputation as the most gifted player of his generation who has never won a major, Zverev will be competing in his fifth Grand Slam final. The 29-year-old has the potential to become the seventh player in the Open era to win Wimbledon and Roland Garros consecutively.
“Jannik has won Wimbledon last year. Again, I think the serve-return patterns are going to be very, very important,” he said.
Zverev’s humiliating Wimbledon first-round loss to Arthur Rinderknech occurred just a year ago. He is now in danger of becoming the first guy from Germany to win Wimbledon since Michael Stich in 1991. Since Boris Becker in 1995, he is the first male German to reach the Wimbledon final.
Asked if he felt liberated by his French Open final win over Flavio Cobolli, Zverev said: “Yes, one thing, for sure, once you win a major you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You have this feeling inside of you.”
By the time he gets another opportunity to tie Roger Federer’s record eight Wimbledon victories, Djokovic will be 40 years old, but he intends to return for another run.
“I would like to, at least one more time,” he said when asked if he would return to Wimbledon next year.
Since winning the Grand Slam at the US Open in 2023, Djokovic has lost six major semifinals.
Fery’s incredible performance overshadowed his disappointment at not becoming the first wildcard to advance to the Wimbledon final since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
“I’m proud of how I handled the progression of the tournament and how I kept going in every match. It might have been just a step too far today,” the world number 114 said.
