Becker analyzes the duel between Sinner and Djokovic at Wimbledon: "They have to step up another gear"

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Jannik Sinner faces one of the biggest challenges of his career in the semifinals of Wimbledon 2026. On the other side of the net will be Novak Djokovic, a seven-time champion of the tournament and, according to Boris Becker, the most dangerous rival on grass. The German, a legend of the All England Club and former coach of the Serbian, has analyzed the moment of both players and believes that the Italian still has room to raise his level.

Becker's words always carry a special weight when talking about Wimbledon. The German conquered three titles on the London grass and also knows perfectly well what it means to compete from the sidelines alongside Djokovic, whom he coached for several seasons.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former world number one reflected on Sinner's evolution during this tournament, explained why he still considers the Serbian the top favorite on grass, and pointed out the keys to a semifinal that promises to define the championship.

Victory over Kecmanovic changed Sinner's tournament

For Becker, the crucial moment of Sinner's journey at Wimbledon was not his qualification for the semifinals but the hard-fought five-set victory achieved in the first round against Miomir Kecmanovic. That match came just weeks after the tough blow suffered at Roland Garros and after a long period without competition, with many doubts about his physical and mental state.

"I think the first match was fundamental. Winning that very long five-set encounter was extremely important, especially because his track record in those types of situations was not particularly good. I have the feeling that he has been growing match by match. The key is to peak at the right moment, and I believe he's now positioned ideally to face the decisive phase of the tournament," he explained.

Becker believes that this triumph had a much greater value beyond mere sports. It served for Sinner to verify that his body responded after the wear and tear of Paris and to regain competitive confidence in the most demanding scenario possible.

"Certainly. You can lose a Grand Slam during the first week if you expend too much energy in long matches. Sinner didn't do that. For me, that first match was huge because it followed the disappointment of Paris and a long break. There were doubts about his physical conditions, and he answered all those questions. Now, I believe he can shift into high gear," he affirmed.

Becker believes Sinner has yet to show his best tennis

Despite already reaching the semifinals, the German insists that the world number one has not yet reached the level he expects from him. And precisely for that reason, he sees him in a very dangerous position for his opponents. "Is he already playing his best tennis? No. But it is not necessary to do so during the first week. You have to achieve it in the second week," he stated.

This reflection aligns with an idea that Sinner himself has repeated many times: a Grand Slam is not won during the early days of the tournament but when the matches that truly decide the champion arrive. Becker believes that the Italian has perfectly managed that process and now must take the final step.

Djokovic remains the greatest grass specialist

That final step inevitably involves defeating Novak Djokovic. And Becker has no doubt that the Serbian continues to be the toughest rival on the London grass.

"He will have to improve. I have always thought that Wimbledon was Djokovic's best opportunity to win another Grand Slam, and I believe he knows it too. On grass, Novak remains the most difficult opponent to beat. Let's not forget he defeated Sinner in the semifinals of Melbourne. In a Grand Slam, Nole always poses a huge obstacle," he affirmed.

These words carry even more weight coming from someone who knows Djokovic from the inside. Becker was one of the coaches who helped establish Djokovic's dominant version and fully understands how he transforms his game when the final rounds of the major tournaments approach.

The German believes that the mental factor will once again play a crucial role. "Now everything changes, especially the mentality. He's in a Grand Slam semifinal; this is where he wants to play his best tennis. It all starts in the mind, and then the rest follows," he explained.

The serve symbolizes Sinner's significant evolution

Becker also wanted to focus on one of the aspects that has evolved the most since the Italian's breakthrough in the elite: his serve. A shot that was considered vulnerable in his early years has become, according to the German, one of his tennis's major assets.

"He can improve a bit in all aspects, but the serve has become his best shot. It used to be a weakness, and Simone Vagnozzi along with Darren Cahill have done an extraordinary job. Now it's a real weapon, and having so many free points and aces on grass makes a huge difference," he analyzed.

The transformation is particularly visible at Wimbledon, where the serve takes on a critical importance. Becker believes that this improvement explains much of Sinner's growth over the past two years and is one of the main reasons why he has managed to establish himself at the top of the rankings.

Why Wimbledon requires a different mentality

As a three-time tournament champion, Becker also took the opportunity to explain what makes grass the most demanding surface from a psychological perspective. "On grass, you win by being aggressive and seeking winners. On clay, the one who makes fewer mistakes usually wins. It's a completely different approach," he explained.

The German emphasized that on grass, each opportunity carries immense value. "Every break point matters much more because they are scarce. On clay, you might have ten or fifteen during a match. Here, you might only have one per set, and it can completely decide the outcome. Mentally, grass is the most challenging surface, because you can even reach a tie-break without having had a single break point," he concluded.

Boris Becker's reflections perfectly depict the challenge awaiting Sinner. The Italian has been growing since that hard-fought first-round victory, dispelled the doubts left by Roland Garros, and arrives in an obvious upward moment. However, he will face the man whom Becker still considers the greatest grass specialist in the world. If Sinner wants to reach another Wimbledon final, he will need to show that the fifth gear Becker talks about truly exists.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Becker analiza el duelo entre Sinner y Djokovic en Wimbledon: "Tienen que meter otra marcha"