The Albany Gazette - Sinner, Zverev power into Wimbledon final

Sinner is within touching distance of a second successive Wimbledon title after ending Djokovic's latest attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 demolition of the seven-time champion.

The Italian world number one will meet French Open champion Zverev in Sunday's title match following the German second seed's 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, 6-4 rout of British wildcard Fery.

The Centre Court crowd hoped to witness the latest chapter in Fery's fairytale run, as well as another demonstration of the 39-year-old Djokovic's age-defying heroics.

But instead they were left to applaud the brutally efficient combination of power-hitting and lethal serving that carried both Sinner and Zverev into the final.

Sinner will be appearing in his second Wimbledon final as he chases a fifth Grand Slam crown, while Zverev, in search of a second major title, is through to his maiden showpiece at the All England Club.

Sinner goes into the final as the firm favourite, having won his last nine meetings with Zverev, including four this year.

While Sinner is on a 13-match winning streak at Wimbledon, Zverev has won his last 13 matches at Grand Slams.

The Italian can notch his 100th Grand Slam match win by repeating his 2025 Australian Open final victory over Zverev.

"It means a lot to me to play one more final here. It's the most special tournament we have," said Sinner, who crashed out in the second round of the recent French Open.

"Of course, playing against Novak, what he is showing is a huge inspiration for the new generation, what he is still doing is amazing."

- 'Had to raise my level' -

Sinner, 24, will be competing in his seventh Grand Slam final and his first since losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open last year.

It will be the 18th time in the Open era that the top two seeds have met in the Wimbledon men's singles final.

Sinner and Zverev have dropped just two sets each in this year's tournament, with the Italian coming from two sets to one down in a first-round scare against Miomir Kecmanovic.

"I feel like every round is different because of the grass, it is changing a lot, so you need to adapt yourself. I knew mentally I had to raise my level, which I have done so I am very happy," Sinner said.

"I'm happy where I am, happy to be back in the final and we hope for a good final on Sunday."

Zverev will be in his fifth Grand Slam final after finally shedding the unwanted tag as the most talented player of his generation never to win a major.

The 29-year-old can become the seventh man in the Open era to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back.

"Jannik has won Wimbledon last year. Again, I think the serve-return patterns are going to be very, very important," he said.

Just 12 months ago, Zverev suffered an embarrassing Wimbledon first-round exit against Arthur Rinderknech.

After failing to get past the last 16 in nine visits prior to this year, Zverev is on the brink of becoming the first German man to win Wimbledon since Michael Stich in 1991.

He is the first male German finalist at Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 1995.

Asked if he felt liberated by his French Open final win over Flavio Cobolli, Zverev said: "Yes, one thing, for sure, once you win a major you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You have this feeling inside of you.

"The second thing, I feel like I worked on my game a lot. I feel like my game has improved. Sometimes in sports it's as simple as that."

(W.Walker--TAG)