JANNIK SINNER DUMPED OUT OF WIMBLEDON AND NOVAK DJOKOVIC INTO ANOTHER FINAL – OUR BIG PREDICTIONS

The Wimbledon draw has been made and there are some big winners among the top seeds in the men’s draw – as well as one huge loser.

Jannik Sinner is the top seed at Wimbledon for the first time in his career, but that status has not protected him from a desperately challenging draw that will see the Italian handed a host of daunting hurdles.

Meanwhile, the debate over Novak Djokovic’s participation at Wimbledon after he underwent knee surgery on June 5 is over after the seven-time champion appears to have been handed a glorious chance to reach another final… if his knee allows him to get through the two weeks.

SINNER’S NIGHTMARE

Any doubts that world No 1 Sinner doesn’t have a game to shine on grass were banished as he lifted the title in Halle last week.

That tournament was also a great test for a hip problem that was a big concern ahead of the French Open, but now he has been handed an even bigger test to overcome.

Sinner reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year and was comprehensively beaten by Djokovic, but it is a very different version of the Italian returning in 2024.

He is now a Grand Slam champion and a player who carries an aura onto court that has yet to be established a year ago, but his reserves will be tested after a horrible draw.

Sinner will get past German clay court specialist Yannick Hanfmann in the first round, but he could then face 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the second round in what would certainly be a blockbuster match played on Centre Court.

Novak Djokovic will be licking his lips as he emerges as big winner from Wimbledon draw

Novak Djokovic making surprisingly quick return to action as Wimbledon decision is confirmed

Round three could see Sinner face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor and while he has a 5-0 winning record against him, this is a potential opponent who won a grass court title on the ATP Tour in Rosmalen last year.

Big-serving Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev are also in his half of the draw, with the second of those opponents a rival who has given Sinner real trouble in the past and he may then meet defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

VERDICT: Sinner may be jaded if he gets to a semi-final against Alcaraz. This draw may be too much for any player to deal with.

NOVAK’S GOLDEN TICKET

Novak Djokovic ended the debate over whether he would play at Wimbledon after a week of practice at the All England Club when he confirmed that he will play an exhibition match against Daniil Medvedev in London on Friday.

His recovery from a knee operation at the start of the month is remarkable, but his draw at Wimbledon may now make him the favourite to lift the title for a record-equalling eighth time.

He plays Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in the first round and while he must still have some doubts over his knee, he doesn’t look set to face a big test until a potential fourth round match-up with Holger Rune.

As Danish young gun Rune has been in poor form of last, there has to be doubt over whether he will get that far, so the path to the quarter-finals and a match against dark horse Hubi Hurkacz could present his biggest challenge.

He won’t face Sinner or Alcaraz until the final and now all eyes will be on his fitness over the first two or three matches.

VERDICT: If Djokovic’s knee allows him to perform, Djokovic will get to another Wimbledon final.

THREE TO WATCH

Jack Draper confirmed he is a threat to anyone on grass courts when he beat Alcaraz at Queen’s Club earlier this mo and the young Englishman has been handed a chance to make a big run at Wimbledon.

Draper will see off Elias Ymer in the first round and will then face a possible all-British clash against a woefully out-of-form Cameron Norrie.

Hubert Hurkacz could lie in wait in round three of Draper, but he destroyed the Pole at the US Open last year and that would be a sparkling showdown between two elite grass court players.

Hurkacz also has to be included on a player-to-watch list as he has a fine grass court pedigree after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021, beating Roger Federer in his final Centre Court match amid that run.

The third name on our dark horse list is America’s Sebastian Korda.

His power-packed game is ready-made for grass courts and while a draw that sees him take on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in round one may not be ideal, he should come through and make the third round.

That could throw up a possible meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas, with both players managed by tennis agent Patricio Apey.

Korda may be the favourite to come through that match on grass and he will be a threat in a half of the draw that lacks depth.

VERDICT: Draper and Korda to reach the quarter-finals 

2024-06-28T12:33:04Z dg43tfdfdgfd