Jannik Sinner faced accusations from Novak Djokovic’s supporters claiming he faked an elbow injury before his Ben Shelton Wimbledon quarterfinal match on Wednesday. Despite rumors that Sinner’s training had been interrupted due to the injury, he secured a hard-fought victory against Shelton, advancing to the semifinals.
Sinner Overcomes Shelton in Challenging Quarterfinal Encounter
Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton engaged in a competitive quarterfinal match where Shelton pushed Sinner to a tiebreak in the opening set, which the Italian won decisively 7-2. Following this, Sinner maintained control and won the next two sets 6-4, 6-4, demonstrating resilience against the American competitor. Shelton’s strong start and determined play made the match intense, but Sinner’s steady performance ultimately secured his passage to the semifinals.
Fans Question Authenticity of Sinner’s Injury and Past Controversies
After Sinner’s win, some of Novak Djokovic’s fans voiced skepticism about the legitimacy of Sinner’s elbow injury, drawing parallels to previous health concerns and doping controversies linked to the Italian player. One fan sarcastically remarked:
“I hear that Sinner won in straights, I thought hit Elbow would be just fine, just like his ‘Chronic hip’ and ‘tonsillitis’ cleared up quickly. Fair play to him and his team, they play it well.”
Another supporter accused Sinner of cheating and referenced doping allegations from earlier in the year:
“Once a cheater, always a cheater. Doping, fake injuries…”
A separate fan also labeled Sinner as both dishonest and theatrical:
“He’s not only a doper but an actor too.”
Additional reactions questioned the authenticity of Sinner’s medical timeout, suggesting his pain was exaggerated:
“I could see the fakeness the minute he got up from the medical time out. He was perfectly fine but almost howling in pain a minute before.”
“He and his team are repulsive. And the roof action with Dimitrov – pathetic.”
One user summarized the sentiment with a critical nickname:
“Fakeinner”
Djokovic Reflects on Next Semifinal against Sinner at Wimbledon
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic secured his quarterfinal win over Flavio Cobolli in four sets to set up a semifinal rematch with Jannik Sinner on July 11. After a 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory, Djokovic expressed enthusiasm about facing Sinner again, acknowledging the competitive edge of his opponent. Speaking during his post-match interview, Djokovic said:
“Competing with youngsters makes me feel young, like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around the court. Speaking of the young guys, I will have [Jannik] Sinner in the next round so I look forward to that. That is going to be a great match-up.”
Despite trailing 4-5 in their head-to-head, Djokovic’s impressive Wimbledon history includes 44 wins out of his last 46 matches at the tournament, with only two losses against reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Potential Implications of the Upcoming Semifinal Clash
The Wimbledon semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner carries significant anticipation, not only because it is their second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal encounter following the French Open but also due to the emerging tensions fueled by fans’ reactions. The outcome will be closely watched as both players aim to continue their pursuit of Grand Slam glory, with their rivalry promising another intense and strategic battle on the grass courts.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Ben Shelton sponsored by Rolex?
A. In 2024, Ben Shelton was chosen as a Rolex Testimonee.
Q. Does Ben Shelton have a degree?
A. He studied finance at the University of Florida but changed to an online business degree when he went professional. Now, he’s eager to learn about every part of managing his tennis career, especially since he is the decision-maker.
Q. Is Ben Shelton a Rolex ambassador?
A. Sponsorships. From March 2023, Shelton has been supported by On for apparel and footwear, and Yonex for rackets. On January 14, 2024, he shared news of his partnership with Rolex.