Novak Djokovic out of Wimbledon after straight sets loss to Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner ruthlessly ended Novak Djokovic’s latest bid for Wimbledon glory with a straight-sets victory in the semi-final.

The Italian will defend his title against Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final after a clinical 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory on Centre Court.

Djokovic has reached the semi-finals or better in six of his past seven grand slams, a remarkable feat for a man who turns 40 next year.

But he cuts an increasingly listless figure at the sharp end of the tournaments, with the rigours of a fortnight of best-of-five-sets tennis taking its toll, not least that late-night, five-hour slog against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-final.

That seemed to be the story here again. Sinner has not exactly been convincing this tournament, but his relentless power and penetration proved simply too much for Djokovic.

After the fever dream that was Arthur Fery competing in the first semi-final had passed, this was supposed to be Wimbledon getting back down to business.

But the heavyweight contest, between the world number one and defending champion and the seven-time winner with 24-time grand slam titles to his name, was almost as one-sided as Zverev’s victory.

The sets were tight, the margins small, but there was an inescapable feeling that should Sinner needed to have dug deeper, he probably could have.

The London heatwave, which could have been a factor after Sinner had wilted in the blazing Paris sunshine at the French Open last month, was negated by a welcome breeze inside Centre Court.

He took the first set in 40 minutes, courtesy of a sizzling backhand winner down the line to secure the only break.

When Djokovic got a hint of a potential break in the second, at 0-30, Sinner gently squeezed on the accelerator.

A 121mph ace