SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images
Novak Djokovic stormed back from a
two-set deficit to overcome an upset bid by Jannik Sinner in the
2022 Wimbledon men’s quarterfinals Tuesday.
Wimbledon @Wimbledon
Comeback complete 👑@DjokerNole is a Wimbledon semi-finalist for the 11th time, sealing a sublime 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Jannik Sinner#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/xdkN5os2H2
Djokovic, who recorded 41 winners and
eight aces in the five-set win, held a 4-1 lead in the opening set before Sinner surged
ahead to win the first two sets.
The 20-year-old Italian couldn’t
complete his quest to earn his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance,
however, as the 20-time major champion found his rhythm on the return
and mounted a furious comeback with five breaks over the final three
sets.
Sinner, the tournament’s No. 10 seed,
finished the match with 43 winners and 41 unforced errors.
Djokovic had dropped just two sets over
his first four matches on the grass courts of the All England Club
before getting pushed the distance Tuesday.
The six-time Wimbledon champion played
a pair of nearly flawless sets of counterattacking tennis to get the match back
level.
Sinner faced an injury scare late in
the fourth set when he rolled over his ankle, a moment reminiscent of Alexander Zverev at this year’s French Open, but he quickly got back to his feet with a little help from his counterpart.
Wimbledon @Wimbledon
Sinner takes a tumble, and Djokovic is quick to help the Italian back on his feet 🤝#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/NKHENd6PRB
Djokovic continued to apply consistent
pressure on the return in the final set and pulled away with a few more
breaks of serve.
Despite the deficit he faced, there was little drama as the match wound down. Once the 35-year-old
Serbian started to turn things around, Sinner couldn’t flip the momentum back in his favor.
Wimbledon @Wimbledon
He’s flying now ✈️#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/DfBRxvzGDR
Djokovic, who’s won the last three
Wimbledon titles (the event wasn’t held in 2020), advances to face
either Cameron Norrie or David Goffin in the semifinals.
The top seed will be a heavy favorite
in either potential matchup. He’s 7-1 against Goffin in their
head-to-head meetings, and he beat Norrie in their first career encounter at last
year’s ATP Tour Finals.
A showdown with Rafael Nadal, who’s
trying to chase down a calendar Grand Slam, remains on the table
for a possible Wimbledon men’s final.