​On July 3, 2026 in London, United Kingdom, Jannik Sinner (ITA) saluted the crowd after his match against Jenson Brooksby (USA) (not pictured) on day five of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. © Geoff Burke-ImagN Images. As Sinner prepares to face a fresh challenger in the Wimbledon 2026 fourth round, Shintaro Mochizuki is eager for the challenge ahead. Fresh off the biggest upset of his career by dethroning Rafael Jódar in the third round, Mochizuki previewed the daunting test awaiting him against World No. 1 Sinner.
Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon Opponent Shintaro Mochizuki Speaks on Clash With World No. 1. After a surprising second-round exit ended his French Open campaign, Sinner has returned to form at Wimbledon. The Italian began his title defense with a gruelling five-set win over Miomir Kecmanović, then tightened his grip with straight-set victories over Nuno Borges and Jenson Brooksby on Friday to reach the fourth round.
Next up for Sinner is a compelling challenge against Mochizuki, who is riding a hot streak. The 23-year-old fought from a set down to defeat 23rd seed Jódar in the third round and now aims even higher. “It’s a strange feeling to play Jannik at Wimbledon, especially this year. I wasn’t winning much before arriving here. I don’t know how I’ve managed to win matches here. I’m excited, but I also feel a little odd. I just want to keep enjoying it,” Mochizuki said in his post-match press conference on Friday. A former junior Wimbledon champion, Mochizuki has found success at the All England Club, but he knows he must deliver near-perfect tennis to challenge Sinner, who has lost only three matches on the Tour this year.
“He’s just a celebrity for me. That’s why it feels strange to play him. But I’m sure he’ll play very fast and try to dominate. I want to do whatever I can to disrupt him. Hitting balls back isn’t enough to beat him, so I want to do something else to make him uncomfortable, like keeping balls low and coming to the net,” he added.
MORE: Novak Djokovic’s Next Opponent Roman Safiullin Breaks Down in Tears After João Fonseca Wimbledon Clash. Mochizuki hadn’t won a singles main-draw match on the ATP Tour this year before his Wimbledon surge and is currently ranked 151st. Yet he’s finding his form at the right moment, and if he disrupts Sinner’s rhythm early, he could pull off one of Wimbledon’s biggest upsets.