Novak Djokovic will meet top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon men's singles semifinals after Serbia's seven-time event winner survived a record-breaking five-hour battle with Felix Auger-Aliassime in London on Tuesday, Meanwhile Italy's defending champion overcame Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets.
Djokovic edged Canada's third seed Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4) in the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, while Sinner defeated Germany's Struff 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3.
The 39-year-old Djokovic produced another memorable performance at SW19, overcoming Auger-Aliassime in a dramatic contest that lasted five hours and 15 minutes. The 24-time Grand Slam winner said the match ranked among the most special battles he had played at the All England Club, comparing the clash with his legendary 2019 final against Roger Federer.
"It's exciting to be part of such an epic match that was played over five hours," Djokovic said. "Just one of the best matches I was honestly part of in Wimbledon."
The match featured several momentum swings, with neither player able to establish control for long. Djokovic saved his best tennis for the deciding tiebreak, which saw him take advantage of his opportunities to clinch the victory, extending his record at the All England Club with a 15th appearance in the semifinals.
The dramatic finish came shortly before Wimbledon's 11 p.m. curfew, with the Centre Court crowd applauding both players after a high-quality battle. Djokovic added that he appreciated the atmosphere as spectators recognized the significance of the late-night finish.
"At this stage, I'm still able to battle these young guys that are 15 years younger than me," the Serbian noted. "Of course, in a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself."
Djokovic will now face Sinner for the second time in 2026, after defeating the Italian in the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year. Sinner, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 6-5, beat Djokovic at the same stage in last year's edition of the grass-court major.
Sinner moved into his third appearance in the Wimbledon semifinals after delivering a composed performance against Struff on No. 1 Court. The World No. 1 was tested by his opponent's powerful serve and aggressive style, but maintained control to seal the victory.
Struff pushed Sinner throughout the second set, using his heavy forehand and sharp net attacks to create pressure. The German earned a set point at 5-4, but Sinner responded with clutch serving before taking control in a tiebreak and carrying that momentum into the final set.
"The second set could have ended in a different way," he pointed out. "Tiebreaks are always 50/50. If you are one-set-all or two-sets-up, it's a big difference."
The victory extended Sinner's strong record at the season's third Grand Slam, lifting his mark to 25-4 at the All England Club. After needing five sets to defeat Miomir Kecmanovic in the opening round, the Italian has taken 12 consecutive sets to reach his 10th major semifinal.
Sinner is now two wins away from successfully defending his Wimbledon title, with the next step on that journey seeing him aim to continue his recent dominance when he meets Djokovic on Friday.
