Tennis legend John McEnroe believes Jannik Sinner is now a “better version of Novak Djokovic” and will defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final unless Alcaraz brings his absolute best game.
Sinner’s Dominant Path to the Final
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has showcased incredible resilience and skill on his journey to his first-ever Wimbledon final. He has bounced back strongly from his French Open semi-final defeat against Carlos Alcaraz just last month.
Despite battling a recent elbow injury, Sinner has impressed observers with his fluid court movement and powerful returns. His form culminated in a decisive victory over seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, winning in straight sets: 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
McEnroe’s Extraordinary Praise
Three-time Wimbledon winner John McEnroe was particularly effusive in his praise for Sinner. He remarked on BBC that he had never seen the Italian move so smoothly across the court.
McEnroe highlighted Sinner’s improved forecourt play, including surprising lobs, noting that such versatility isn’t typical of his game. He went as far as to compare Sinner’s performance to the legendary Novak Djokovic.
“We were watching a better version of Novak Djokovic playing himself,” McEnroe stated. He added that Sinner was executing the same strategies that helped Djokovic reach the pinnacle of the sport.
The Ultimate Showdown: Sinner vs. Alcaraz
Despite Carlos Alcaraz winning Wimbledon for the past two years, McEnroe issued a clear warning. He believes Alcaraz must deliver his peak performance to overcome Sinner in their upcoming final.
“When Sinner brings his A game, there’s no one that can beat him – other than Alcaraz,” McEnroe explained. However, he emphasized, “if Alcaraz doesn’t bring his A game, Sinner will win every time. So it’s going to be extremely interesting.”
Alcaraz Reacts to Sinner’s Form
Carlos Alcaraz, who edged past Taylor Fritz in his own semi-final, admitted he was surprised by Djokovic’s straight-sets loss to Sinner. He acknowledged that beating Djokovic, especially so convincingly, is an incredibly difficult feat.
The 22-year-old Spaniard expressed his respect for Sinner’s consistently high level of play. “The level that Jannik’s playing, it’s really high, as always,” Alcaraz said in his press conference. “I think he doesn’t get down his level in the matches. It’s unbelievable what he can do on a tennis court.”
The Power of Sinner’s Game
Even American talent Ben Shelton, who faced Sinner in the quarter-finals, lauded his opponent’s otherworldly intensity. Shelton described Sinner’s ball speed as unparalleled, stating he had never experienced anything like it.
“When you play him it’s almost like things are in 2x speed,” Shelton commented. He highlighted the challenge of facing a player who hits the ball with such power and consistency from both wings, alongside his strong serving.
- Jannik Sinner’s improved movement and versatility have earned him high praise from John McEnroe.
- McEnroe compared Sinner’s semi-final performance against Djokovic to a “better version” of the Serbian legend.
- Carlos Alcaraz will need to be at his absolute best to defeat Sinner in the Wimbledon final, according to McEnroe.
- Players like Ben Shelton note Sinner’s incredibly high ball speed and consistent power.
The stage is set for a thrilling Wimbledon final between two of tennis’s brightest stars, with Sinner in red-hot form and Alcaraz determined to defend his title.
