As Jannik Sinner walked to the net to shake hands with Novak Djokovic here on Friday, the young Italian allowed himself a little shake of the head. If you’re going to have a sniff of beating one of the all-time greats, you have to take your chances, however fleeting they may be. But like so many who have gone before him, Sinner was reminded that for all the talk of a new generation ready to take over the men’s game, the king is still holding on to his crown.
It is 10 years since Djokovic last lost on Centre Court, to Andy Murray on that remarkable July day. Since then, Britain has had four more prime ministers while Djokovic has won here six more times, sweeping all before him and chewing off a bit of the hallowed Centre Court grass each time. If Sinner wasn’t quite chewed up, he was left wondering what might have been.
