Sinner cruises past Struff to reach Wimbledon semi-finals

Sinner cruises past Struff to reach Wimbledon semi-finals Last updated 07 July 2026 4:23pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Jannik Sinner is through to the semi-finals Credit: Ben Whitley/PA Eugene Allen live updates. Jim White at Wimbledon Last updated 07 July 2026 4:23pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email What we had on No 1 Court, in the day’s first quarter-final, was a demonstration in the art of winning championships. On a baking hot day, when most of the crowd was obliged forlornly to wave fans in their faces to stop themselves from frazzling in the sun, the reigning champion Jannik Sinner barely appeared to break sweat in 7-5, 7-6, 6-3 victory. What he did was simply pace himself. Unlike the veteran Jan-Lennard Struff, who was in only his second quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in a 15-year career, he knew precisely what to do at this stage, when to accelerate, when to stop his opponent seizing the momentum. This was a masterclass in doing precisely what was necessary. And no more. His ease, his confidence, his control sent out the loudest of messages: this is a player here to win. Not just the odd match. But the title. More to follow... Latest updates Eugene Allen live updates. Jim White at Wimbledon 3:58PM Sinner back in another Wimbledon semi-final Link copied to clipboard Super Sinner 💫 The defending champion is a semi-finalist for the second consecutive year 🇮🇹#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/QPDS3HFCnx — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2026 3:57PM Djokovic or Auger-Aliassime up next for Sinner Link copied to clipboard Sinner will face seven-time champion Novak Djokovic or the third-seeded Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals.   3:44PM Sinner wins in three sets Link copied to clipboard Sinner, serving for the match, goes 15-0 up after drawing an error from Struff. The German then sees a backhand slice land wide for 0-30. Struff gets on the board following a deep backhand. An unreturned T-serve brings up two match points for the Italian... Struff then goes long with a backhand return.  Game. Set. Match: Sinner! 3:40PM Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 5-3 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff starts with a good serve-volley play. A brilliant return then gets Sinner on the board at 15-15. Struff then sees a backhand land wide to fall 15-30 behind. Scoreboard pressure. Struff shanks a forehand to hand Sinner two break points (virtual match points). Struff saves the first as Sinner nets a backhand which was an attempted passing shot. And the Italian breaks! 3:35PM *Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 4-3 Struff Link copied to clipboard At 30-30, Struff nets an easy-looking forehand, to hand Sinner game point.  The Italian holds to move ahead in this third set. 3:30PM Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 3-3 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff falls 0-30 behind before playing brave pays off as he closes out at the net with a backhand volley for 15-30. A good first serve gets the German to 30-30 and then 40-30 as Sinner is unable to find the court with a return. Struff then delivers a 138mph ace to close out the game. Very good hold! 3:25PM *Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 3-2 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner races to a 30-0 lead after some good serving. Struff nets a backhand return on the stretch as Sinner moves to 40-0 before closing out the game as a Struff forehand sails beyond the baseline. Sinner seems to be enjoying himself here. Between services in that last game, when a fan declared her love for him, he stopped for a moment and, with a broad grin, waved in her direction. If he was not in quite such a commanding position here you suspect he would not be quite so charmingly accommodating. 3:23PM Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 2-2 Struff* Link copied to clipboard A deep return Sinner sees Struff net a backhand from his baseline. The German then delivers a T-serve ace to draw level at 15-15 but then goes long with a ground stroke in the next point. Sinner then goes long with a backhand return.  Struff, on the stretch, plays a forehand wide giving Sinner break point. The German saves it as Sinner goes long with a forehand. Struff gets to advantage as Sinner pushes a backhand wide. The Italian comes out on top of an extended rally before Struff puts away a backhand smash for advantage. And the German holds. 3:15PM *Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 2-1 Struff Link copied to clipboard At 15-15, Struff comes up with a forehand winner to move 15-30 ahead. Sinner then draws an error from the German to move the score to 30-30.  An ace brings up game point for Sinner and the world No 1 holds, closing out the game with a forehand drop shot. 3:10PM Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 1-1 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff races to a 30-0 lead before Sinner gets on the board at 30-15. A good first delivery gets Struff to 40-15 before Sinner is rewarded for some good scrambling to move to 40-30. Struff eventually holds. 3:07PM Third set: *Sinner 7-5, 7-6, 1-0 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner holds to love to get things started in this third set. 3:02PM Sinner cruising Link copied to clipboard Sinner simply knows how to steal an opponent’s momentum. Just as Struff broke service and delivered some of the best points of his Championship so far, so the world number one knew precisely how to win. That tie break was Struff’s best chance to seize the initiative. But, whatever his opponent’s lung-busting effort, Sinner cruised smoothly through it to go two sets up.    2:59PM Sinner wins second-set tie-break 7-4 Link copied to clipboard Struff ace. 0-1. Sinner comes up with his own unreturned first delivery. 1-1. The Italian follows up with another. 2-1. Sinner gets the first mini break after Struff nets from the baseline. 3-1. The German puts away a forehand volley. 3-2. Sinner then sees Struff net a return. 4-2. Sinner ace out wide. 5-2. Sinner nets a return. 5-3. The Italian is unable to return a strong T-serve. 5-4. Strong first serve from Sinner brings up two set points. 6-4. Struff goes long with a forehand return and Sinner wins the tie-break 7-4. Sinner celebrates winning the second set Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images 2:53PM *Sinner 7-5, 6-6 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner comfortably holds. Tie-break we go. 2:49PM Sinner 7-5, 5-6 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff, under pressure at 30-30, holds his nerve and wins the next two points to close out the game. The German has guaranteed himself at least a tie-break unless he breaks the world No 1 in the next game. 2:44PM *Sinner 7-5, 5-5 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner falls 0-15 behind before quickly winning the next two points via a forehand winner and an ace. Struff comes into the net and is rewarded and then gets to 30-40. Sinner saves break point with a strong first serve before an ace brings up game point for the Italian.  Sinner holds. 2:38PM Sinner 7-5, 4-5 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Sinner draws an error from Struff at 30-30 to get a look at another break point. Struff saves it with a strong first serve. Deuce. The Italian then sees his return land wide of Struff’s tramline, handing the German advantage. Struff holds. 2:34PM *Sinner 7-5, 4-4 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner holds to 15 to draw level. 2:29PM Sinner 7-5, 3-4 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff double-faults before a finding his spots with two strong first serves  Sinner is unable to return. The Italian does get a look at a serve 40-15 but Struff sees out the game and maintains his lead in this second set. 2:27PM *Sinner 7-5, 3-3 Struff Link copied to clipboard Struff shanks a forehand return off a Sinner first serve. The Italian then sees a forehand hit the net as the score moves to 15-15. The German shows off his delicate hands, passing Sinner with forehand volley for 15-30 before going long from the baseline on the same wing. 30-30.  Sinner moves to 40-30 but is then passed at the net as Struff gets to deuce. T-serve ace, advantage Sinner. Sinner, bothered by someone in the crowd, double-faults before delivering a sixth ace and eventually holding. 2:19PM Sinner 7-5, 2-3 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff races 30-0 ahead before getting the better of the Italian in a drawn out baseline exchange for 40-0. Sinner gets on the board at 40-15 and then 40-30 as a Struff backhand lands wide but the German sees out the game to 30. That was a critical moment. Having failed to take advantage of three times getting to deuce in Sinner’s service games, Struff first breaks Sinner, then maintains the momentum by holding his serve. He now is on top. 2:15PM *Sinner 7-5, 2-2 Struff Link copied to clipboard Struff, showing attacking intent, goes 0-15 ahead. Sinner then delivers his first double fault of the contest to fall 0-30 behind. A short ball on the forehand wing is then put away by the Italian before more success on that wing gets Sinner to 30-30. Struff then turns defence into attack, drawing an error from Sinner to get a look at a break point. Struff breaks right back after drawing an error from the top seed! 2:09PM Sinner 7-5, 2-1 Struff* Link copied to clipboard The pair trade the opening couple of points before Struff sees a backhand land wide to give Sinner a look at 15-30. A superb backhand return then earns Sinner two break points. And the Italian secures the break at the first time of asking as Struff crashes a forehand volley into the net. 2:06PM *Sinner 7-5, 1-1 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner goes wide with a backhand after going 15-0 up. A strong first serve then sees the Italian move to 30-15 as Struff nets a return. The German then goes long with a retrun in the next point and Sinner holds, sealing the game with a fourth ace. 2:02PM Second set: Sinner 7-5, 0-1 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff delivers a strong serve out wide that is unreturned by Sinner at 15-30. Sinner then sneaks ahead, getting a break point at 30-40. A ball then falls out of Struff’s pocket midway through a rally. Umpire calls a let. German gets to deuce off a strong T-serve and then advantage as an attempted lob from Sinner sails long. The German holds. 1:55PM Sinner wins first set 7-5 Link copied to clipboard Sinner, serving for the opening set, sees a Struff return sail long. The Italian then gets to 30-0 after some good approach play is rewarded. Struff gets on the board as Sinner goes long from the baseline with a forehand. Ace No 3 then brings up two set points for Sinner and the Italian holds as Struff’s backhand flies out. 1:51PM Sinner 6-5 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Sinner, returning well, goes up 0-30. The German then falls 0-40 behind after netting a backhand from his baseline. Struff saves the first break point with an ace... and the second with another, but Sinner breaks after a clean forehand return winner. 1:48PM *Sinner 5-5 Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner races to a 40-0 lead and holds to love as Struff goes wide with a forehand from the baseline.  Still nothing between the pair as this first nears its conclusion. 1:44PM Sinner 4-5 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff, serving at 15-30, delivers a second ace to move to 30-30 before seeing a return sail long from Sinner. The German holds to 30 after delivering a third ace. Solid hold from the German. Jan-Lennard Struff in action on No 1 Court Credit: Kin Cheung/AP Photo 1:40PM *Sinner 4-4 Struff Link copied to clipboard After racing to 40-0 lead, Sinner can do nothing about a huge forehand-cross from Struff. The German then draws an error from the Italian on the forehand wing to move the score to 40-30. Sinner then sees a forehand go long as Struff gets to deuce. Struff slices a backhand beyond Sinner’s baseline to give the Italian advantage and holds as Struff nets a forehand. 1:34PM Sinner 3-4 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff starts with a serve-volley play, drawing an error from Sinner. The German then goes 30-0 after Sinner plays a forehand long on the stretch.  Another strong first delivery sees the German move to 40-0 before eventually holding to love. 1:32PM *Sinner 3-3 Struff Link copied to clipboard After trading the opening two points, Sinner comes out on top after a 19-shot rally. The top seed then delivers a body serve Struff is unable to return into court. The German then gets to 40-30 after a finishing at the net with a backhand volley.  Sinner completely misses a forehand on his baseline following a good backhand return from Struff. The German then goes long from his baseline to hand Sinner advantage and the Italian holds after seeing Struff go long with a forehand. 1:25PM Sinner 2-3 Struff* Link copied to clipboard Struff holds to love. The German is holding his own in the early exchanges. 1:24PM First set: *Jannik Sinner 2-2 Jan-Lennard Struff Link copied to clipboard Sinner, serving at 40-30, nets a forehand after good point construction from Struff. Sinner then gets to advantage after pouncing on a short ball and the Italian holds. Both men holding serve with ease at the start of this opening set. 1:18PM Sinner the favourite Link copied to clipboard In the first of the day’s quarter finals, it is Italy against Germany on No 1 Court (well, I suppose they have to have something to distract them given neither are involved in the World Cup). But it is hard to see beyond an Italian victory. Sinner is ranked number one in the world; Lennard 74. But then Cape Verde gave Argentina the runaround. So you never know.  1:16PM Routes to the quarter-finals Link copied to clipboard Jannik Sinner First round: Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 Second round: Borges 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 Third round: Brooksby 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 Last 16: Mochizuki 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 Jan-Lennard Struff First round: Baez 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 7-5 Second round: Nakashima [28] 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 Third round: Medvedev [8] 7-6, 7-6, 7-5 Last 16: Hurkacz 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 5-7, 2-4 (ret.) 1:10PM Sinner eyeing spot in semi-finals Link copied to clipboard Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Wimbledon quarter-final between men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner and ATP Tour veteran Jan-Lennard Struff. Sinner, the defending champion, will fancy his chances against the world No 72, while also acknowledging the calibre of the big-serving German’s wins in the first week of the tournament. Struff toppled Hubert Hurkacz and Daniil Medvedev, as well as the 28th seed Brandon Nakashima, in the first week to earn his stop in the final eight. After getting through a tough five-setter against Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round, Sinner eased through his next four matches without dropping a set and will hope to reach a third career Wimbledon final today. Jannik Sinner warms up for his Wimbledon quarter-final against Jan-Lennard Struff Credit: Mike Egerton/PA