Well, that was quite a match. Esp’ so for one that ended in a straight sets victory for the favourite. As Djokovic said in his after-match speech, it was a lot closer really than the score line might suggest.
Sinner took Djokovic to five sets when they met at Wimbledon last year. I was kind of hoping for something similar. But truth be told this was still a great match, and excellent viewing.
Sinner’s only 21, to Djokovic’s 36. So the Italian (he looks and his name seem more Dutch!) will be around for plenty of time, and he’ll no doubt be a serial winner himself, in due course.
Djokovic got both a hindrance and a time warning. Both in the same game, from the umpire, Haigh. To his great credit Djokovic took it like a man. And, as the commentators noted, he turns all that stuff others might find off putting, to grist for his mill.
It was a bit sad to see that both players were, to some extent, not just battling each other, but the slippery on court conditions. Only the covered areas were in play today, as Wimbledon suffered from torrential rain.
Sinner did himself proud, playing extremely well. And Novak simply confirms why he’s the living legend that he is. He could be the dictionary definition for granite, or stalwart. And, despite some theatrics – which I think everyone actually grows to love – he handled his in court demeanour with supreme strength and grace.
Grace under pressure? Who came up with that? Was it Hemingway? Sounds like Hemingway! And Novak is, in some ways (not the hard drinking!), a kind of heroic Hemingway like figure. Chiefly in how he faces down and overcomes fear or adversity.
The more one sees Djokovic, personally speaking, the more one loves him. And so it is he continues his record-breaking trajectory into the tennis and sporting stratosphere!