Wimbledon tips: Novak Djokovic set for mesmerising encounter against Jannik Sinner

"You begin saving the world by saving one man at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics". So said legendary writer/hedonist Charles Bukowski.

I am not sure if Novak Djokovic is a Bukowski fan, but he does seem to have the same stoic focus and philosophy when it comes to collecting majors.

Djokovic may have divided opinion with his stance on Covid vaccines but the biggest statement any sports star can make is to keep winning big tournaments. Moreover, Novak continues to collect Grand Slams with the enthusiasm a young child might have collecting Panini football stickers.

It should prove a fascinating contest. Tipped as a future world No 1 since he burst on to the scene a couple of years ago, Sinner has yet to show any of the consistency Djokovic is famous for. The raw materials are there however for this swashbuckling 21-year-old.

Sinner's only title so far in 2023 came at the Open 13 in Montpellier where he beat Maxime Cressy 7-6 (3) 6-3 in the final. He also reached the final of the Miami Open and made the semi-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Italian Open.

It will be worth keeping an eye on Sinner's two-handed backhand, which he hits with more topspin than any other player on the ATP Tour.

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The Italian is an aggressive baseliner that likes to hit the ball incredibly hard. The sounds coming off his racquet at various times in this quarter-final win over Roman Safiullin were quite terrifying.

Djokovic leads the head-to-head 2-0 but Sinner gave him an almighty scare in the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals, with the Serb coming from two sets down before digging out a 5-7 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 win.

Sinner's consistent groundstrokes, plus a high forehand speed, are bound to give 'Nole' trouble again and it will be mesmerising to see if the 36-year-old can hang with an Italian who is the youngest men's semi-finalist at Wimbledon since 2007.

Yet who are we to doubt the Serb, a player whose longevity, skills and majors won all scream GOAT?

When Djokovic steps on to Centre Court on Friday afternoon, he will do so as a player who has not lost on its grass in just over 10 years. 44 consecutive matches. Or 3,658 days. It's frankly insane. He has not looked completely dominant so far at SW19, but ominously is in the semis once more. Djokovic continues doing Djokovic things and the old bones will be grateful that his quarter-final clash with Andrey Rublev was wrapped up on Tuesday, giving him a few days to rest and reset.

The Italian looks a live dog at 4/1 if he can manage the occasion - he is playing his first ever Grand Slam semi on Friday - and an opponent who has no obvious weakness. However only a fool would bet against Djokovic on Centre Court and so the punt here is to take the 5/6 with Planet Sport Bet that the match lasts more than 35.5 games.

Sinner is excellent and looks nailed on to win a Grand Slam at some point. However, as Bukowski once mused "What matters most is how well you walk through the fire". Let us see how he handles the consistent genius of Djokovic on Centre Court.