Wimbledon 2023 men’s semi-final recap: Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic reaches final with win over Italian Number 8 seed Jannik Sinner

Djokovic will feature in his 35th Grand Slam singles final, which is more than any other man or woman ever.

The World No.2 and 23-time Grand Slam champion books his spot in a fifth straight Wimbledon final as he once again comes up trumps in a breaker by a 7-4 scoreline to secure a straight-sets success in two hours and 47 minutes.

Sinner had his chances and his moments but in the end Djokovic was just too solid and particularly strong on the key points

Djokovic appears to have something in his eyes and repeatedly rubs at them between points. Sinner looks to take advantage and snares an early mini break with a return winner.

The Italian slaps down a big serve to lead 3-1 but then double faults and lashes a backhand long to send them to the chairs level.

Sinner finds great depth from a defensive position to his left flank to lure an error long and make 30-30.

Djokovic responds with a service winner and takes us into a breaker with a sublime forehand to Sinner’s left corner.

Tie-break minimum! Sinner does his job on serve once again, shrugging off a double fault to close out a solid game with a sweeping crosscourt forehand.

Djokovic will again serve to stay in the set and force a breaker.

There’s the threat of a twist to the tale as Novak whacks a forehand wide to cough up two set points.

The crowd cheer when he misses a first serve and he claps his racquet in mock applause.

With his back to the wall, he hits clutch mode although Sinner helps him with some over-exuberant hitting that fails to find the island.

It could well be the Italian's last big chance in this match as Djokovic hangs tough to fight another day.

The Italian is refusing to give upon his dream just yet. It’s another very impressive hold to 15 as he continues to hope for a lull from Nole…

Sinner tries to add more intensity on the return with a forehand to start but Djokovic roars back with four points in a row to easily level matters once again.

Can Sinner make some scoreboard pressure work in his favour? He lands a seventh ace en route to an excellent love hold but if he’s going to make a move in this match, it needs to be very soon.

No dice for Jannik. He tries to up the ante at 30-15 down but again he finds the net with an attempted forehand winner up the line. Djokovic then slaps down a big serve to finish and we are all square.

Jannik keeps his nose in front with controlled use of his power to keep Novak at arm’s length from 30-30.

Sinner has to make a move on one of these half chances, but it doesn’t look like he is capable of upsetting what appears to be a Djokovic procession to the final.

The Italian sizzles a backhand winner to make deuce but you know the story from there as Nole locks in to ease through the next two points and stay on serve.

That’s the type of grit and determination Sinner needed right from the off. He stares down the barrel at 0-40 but grinds his way out of trouble, outlasting Djokovic in some engaging rallies before more clutch work sees him play his get-out-of-jail card from deuce.

Djokovic pops down a trio of aces – including one off a second serve – to take his tally to 10 overall and ease himself on to the board with the minimum of fuss.

Novak misses a forehand and then bashes the sole of his trainer with his racquet for about 10 seconds.

It’s clearly a grip issue but still somewhat bizarre and it doesn’t change the course of the game as Sinner ends it with 1-2 punch off the forehand to the opposite corner.

Djokovic moves to within one set of another Wimbledon final as he cruises through a game to 15 to put a lid on Set 2.

Jannik poses the serve-out question. He’s yet to break Novak and you feel he will have to do it now if he’s to have any chance of winning this match.

Djokovic will serve for a two-set lead next.