Tennis
2026-07-10 - Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis : Wimbledon Semi Final
Friday 10th July 2026 - Scheduled 4pm (British Time)
Preview
As soon as the Wimbledon draw was made two weeks ago, most fans would have been hoping for the latest battle between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic with the winner expecting to be favourite to win the title on Sunday.
Over the last couple of years, it has felt like Jannik Sinner has gotten on top of Novak Djokovic and the World Number One had beaten the Serb in five straight matches.
That alone would not have been an issue for someone like Novak Djokovic, but three of those wins had been earned at Grand Slams, including beating Djokovic at the Australian Open in 2024 and Wimbledon in 2025. Those are two tournaments that Novak Djokovic has loved throughout his career and to be beaten in the manner he had been would have certainly had some wondering if Djokovic would ever win another Grand Slam.
He admitted himself that beating both Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the same tournament would be a considerable challenge, but the latter has been absent from the last couple of Grand Slam events. That means Novak Djokovic 'only' has to beat Jannik Sinner and he will have taken a great amount of confidence from the Australian Open Semi Final win over the Italian back in January.
Not only did it snap the losing run to Jannik Sinner, but Novak Djokovic will have taken great heart from outlasting the Italian in that Semi Final that lasted over four hours and needed to go the distance to determine a winner.
Novak Djokovic needed over five hours to win his Quarter Final, but the match was played on Tuesday and that means this is a situation where the former seven time Wimbledon Champion has had two days of recovery, rather than the usual one day between matches that would be the case at Grand Slam events. Beating Felix Auger Aliassime in the manner he did is a reminder that Novak Djokovic still has something in the tank, but he will be aware that he needs to find another level to beat the defending Champion on Centre Court.
Serving well has been the key for Novak Djokovic, but he is not the same returner as he was at his peak and that will offer plenty of encouragement to Jannik Sinner who has not won any of the last three Grand Slam tournaments played. He is the World Number One, but Sinner has yet to make a Grand Slam Final in 2026 and there is pressure on his shoulders, which perhaps contributed to a tougher than expected Quarter Final win.
Jannik Sinner has spent considerably less time on the court than 39 year old Novak Djokovic and that is going to be a potential factor, while the top Seed has been serving at a consistently high level.
He would like to show a bit more on the return of serve to really feel like his rhythm is in a good place, but Jannik Sinner should be happy enough with the match up and beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the 2025 Wimbledon Semi Final.
This one should be a bit more competitive, but Jannik Sinner should still have the qualities needed to find the breaks of serve at key times and eventually win with room to spare in this last four meeting on Centre Court.
Prediction
Lay the games with the defending Champion and World Number One as he edges out Novak Djokovic in this Semi Final.
The Pick :
Jannik Sinner 3-0 Novak Djokovic
