'Better than ever' - Novak Djokovic hitting new heights in quest for eighth Wimbledon title, says Mats Wilander

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Published 14/07/2023 at 17:41 GMT

Is Novak Djokovic playing the best tennis of his career? That was the question that Eurosport expert Mats Wilander wrestled with after watching the world No. 2 storm past Jannik Sinner in straight sets to reach a fifth consecutive Wimbledon final. Djokovic is one win from a 24th Grand Slam titile and eighth at SW19, while he's still on course for calendar Slam after wins in Australia and France.

Novak Djokovic has been “better than ever” during his run to the Wimbledon final, Mats Wilander said after the world No. 2 stormed past Jannik Sinner.

The Serbian earned a routine straight-sets victory against the 21-year-old to put him one victory from a 24th Grand Slam and eighth Wimbledon title.

After the match, Djokovic said he would “like to believe” he is playing the best tennis of his career as he pursues a calendar Slam following victories in Australia and Roland-Garros.

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“I rate this performance in a similar fashion [to when] he did what he did against Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open [semi-finals],” said Wilander.

“I think he has realised, and he’s played enough tough matches like the one last year here against Sinner, that these guys are good, they hit the ball really hard – harder than Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer]and Andy [Mruray] did, much harder.

“They take it early and I think he’s realised that a human being cannot withstand that all the time. I feel like he goes a little bit more aggressively from the beginning and puts Sinner on his heels.

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“It’s tough for Sinner to get any grip with his footing once he’s defending. I think for Novak it’s all by design.

“Is he a better player now than ever? I would have to say that he is. It’s not Nadal and Federer he’s playing against, but the game’s moved in that direction and I think he’s better.”

Laura Robson wasn’t buying a humble comment from Djokovic, who said after his win that the semi-final had been “super close” and that the third set “could have gone his way.”

The former British No. 1 was impressed by what she saw as the 36-year-old brushed aside a player 15 years his junior.

“We kept talking about what Sinner was going to do differently this year, but we didn’t think so much about what Djokovic would do differently in this particular match-up,” said Robson.

Novak Djokovic

Image credit: Getty Images

“He was just dealing with the pace of Sinner so easily. He said in the on-court interview that the match could’ve gone either way – I didn’t feel that way!

“I don’t think Mats did either - both of us thought it was very straightforward for Novak and it still feels like he has another gear or two to work with if need be.

“Sinner will be thinking he could’ve got off to a better start and things could’ve been different, but ultimately he was just outplayed today.”

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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

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