Djokovic wins five-hour epic to earn Sinner showdown at Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic survived the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller, booking a mouth-watering last-four showdown with Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic survived the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller, booking a mouth-watering last-four showdown with Jannik Sinner, while Coco Gauff scripted her own history by reaching the semifinals of all four Grand Slams with her win over Jessica Pegula. Djokovic was hurt in the first set, but the former champion played through the pain for the rest of a breathtaking 7-6 (12/10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (10/4) victory lasting five hours and 15 minutes in sweltering temperatures on Tuesday. The indefatigable 39-year-old will meet world number one Sinner on Friday for a place in the final. While Sinner beat German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets, Djokovic had to dig deeper before subduing Canadian third seed Auger-Aliassime in one of the all-time gutsiest Wimbledon performances. The question now is whether the Serb will have anything left in the tank to beat the defending champion. Asked how he saw off Auger-Aliassime, Djokovic said: “With a racquet and a lot of heart. I have management of the nerves and the extreme tension you feel in these kinds of matches. “Towards the end, it was really anyone’s game. What can I say? These are the kinds of moments that I still play tennis for, for sure. “I was telling the kids to go to sleep.
I’m glad they stayed because it was one of the best matches I was part of on this court in my career.” Bidding to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon crowns, Djokovic has won five of his 11 clashes with Sinner. Two of those victories over Sinner came at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023, but he lost to the Italian in the 2025 semifinals before avenging that defeat in the last four at the Australian Open in January. “I wish it was the final so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow, but yeah, I’m happy,” an exhausted Djokovic said. As ever for the seven-time Wimbledon champion, each match brings another deluge of statistics that underline Djokovic’s remarkable longevity and incredible thirst for success. He has advanced to a record-extending 15th Wimbledon semifinal and 55th at the Grand Slams. He is into the Wimbledon last four for an eighth consecutive time, setting a new record ahead of Roger Federer for the longest streak of men’s singles semifinal appearances at the All England Club. Djokovic is only the second player in the Open era to reach the men’s semifinals at Wimbledon aged 39 or older, after Ken Rosewall in 1974. “It’s just another semifinal for me.
The BriefWire