Jannik Sinner will play Shintaro Mochizuki in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
The world number one has beaten Miomir Kecmanovic, Nuno Borges, and Jenson Brooksby to reach the last 16 of Wimbledon, where he will take on the Japanese qualifier, who has defeated Vitaly Sachko, Gauthier Onclin, Clement Tabur, Max Basing, Ethan Quinn, and Rafael Jodar.
Mochizuki and Sinner have never met before on tour, but with 150 places separating them in the world rankings, it’s clear who will walk on court as the favourite for their fourth-round match.
Give us your one crazy prediction for the second week of Wimbledon!
Looking to cause an almighty upset, Mochizuki has devised a game plan to take down the defending champion.
Shintaro Mochizuki says he will do whatever he can to distract Jannik Sinner when they play at Wimbledon
During his post-match press conference, the 23-year-old commented on his upcoming fourth-round clash with Sinner.
“Yeah, it’s a strange feeling to play Jannik [Sinner] at Wimbledon, especially now this year. I was not winning much before coming here, and I don’t know how I have been winning matches here,” said Mochizuki.
“I’m excited, but also, at the same time, I feel a little bit strange to be here in the round of 16.
“I just want to keep enjoying it.”
Mochizuki was also asked to describe his game for Italian fans who don’t know much about him.
“As a player, I think I would say I play unique. Not the same as everyone else. I hit balls more flat and come into the net more than the other guys,” he said.
“I think, in this generation, everybody hits so big, serves big. That’s how they’re winning.
“But for me, that’s not the way I think.
“I tried to do that, but it never worked out. I just kept trying to find my own way. This is how it is.
“So I think I would say unique, my game is unique.”
He was then asked for his thoughts on Sinner, and suggested how he would approach their fourth-round match.
“Don’t know about him much in person. I think he’s just a celebrity to me. That’s why I said it feels strange to play against him,” said Mochizuki.
“But I’m sure he’s going to play very quickly, and he’s going to try to destroy me, I think.
“I just want to do whatever I can to, let’s say, distract him because just by hitting tennis balls, I don’t think I can beat him at all.
“I want to do something else to you know, make him uncomfortable, yeah.
“Like hitting balls low, coming into the net. I don’t think he’s used to playing against these kinds of players.
“I think it’s going to be interesting, or he just destroys me!”
Mochizuki knows he could be up against it against Sinner, but what does the Italian think?
Jannik Sinner says Shintaro Mochizuki is a ‘very dangerous player’
During his post-match press conference, Sinner delivered his verdict on Mochizuki.
“He’s a very good player, especially on grass,” said Sinner.
“His ball is very low, so it helps a lot. Seems like a very, very aggressive player.
“Let’s see. We haven’t practiced. We haven’t faced each other. Let’s see what’s coming.
“Mostly, I try to focus on my side of the net. I know that’s the most important at the moment.
“But great win from him, these past matches, coming here.
Shintaro Mochizuki at Wimbledon in 2026
- Q1 [WIN] vs Vitaliy Sachko, 6-3, 7-6
- Q2 [WIN] vs Gauthier Onclin, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
- Q3 [WIN] vs Clement Tabur, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
- 1R [WIN] vs Max Basing, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0
- 2R [WIN] vs Ethan Quinn, 6-2, 7-6, 7-5
- 3R [WIN] vs Rafael Jodar, 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4
“Today was a very tricky opponent, and he managed to go through.
“Very dangerous player. I’ll try to be as prepared as I can.”
Sinner isn’t looking past Mochizuki, but if he were to defeat the qualifier as many expect, he would meet Hubert Hurkacz or Jan Lennard Struff in the quarter-finals.
