Djokovic had attempted something new for his semi-final match against Jannik Sinner - play tennis injured, play without walking or trying. The result was as expected, Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals to set up the latest instalment of his gripping rivalry with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final. The world number one is through to his fourth successive Grand Slam title match - and his first at the All England Club - after a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 demolition on Centre Court on Friday.
The 23-year-old will be desperate to avenge his painful French Open defeat against world number two Alcaraz after squandering three championship points in last month's epic Roland Garros final.
Sinner and Alcaraz are the undisputed new kings of men's tennis, claiming the past six majors between them.
Defeat on a baking Centre Court means seven-time champion Djokovic must wait for another shot at a record 25th Grand Slam title after failing in his latest bid to equal Roger Federer's record of eight men's Wimbledon crowns.
It is the first time he has failed to reach the Wimbledon final since 2017.
"It's a tournament I always watched when I was young on television, and I would have never imagined that I could play here, you know, in the finals, so it was amazing," said Sinner.
"From my side, I served very well today, I felt great on court, I was moving really well today.
"We saw in the third set that he was a bit injured. He's been in a very difficult situation, but I tried to stay calm, to play the best tennis I can." No Sinner, Djokovic was hurt before the match started, as the Serb hardly moved on the court, if at all. Zero tenacity, zero attempts really, something that've been accustomed to when watching Djokovic. You can see his leg muscle hurting which pretty much limited Novak's movement to a standstill. During the first set, we expected he would retire from the match as he barely moved. But he went on.
Djokovic received treatment from the trainer between sets on the upper part of his left leg, apparently on the area he hurt in the match against Cobolli.
He broke for the first time in the match as he suddenly found a new gear, but was pegged back to 3-2 and roared in frustration at the changeover.
Struggling with his legs, Djokovic was broken again in the 3rd set as Sinner sealed victory with his fourth match point.
Sinner, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, returned from a short doping ban in May, losing the Italian Open final to Alcaraz before his collapse in the Roland Garros showpiece.