NOVAK Djokovic survived a gruelling, record-breaking five-set thriller to book his spot in the Wimbledon 2026 semi-finals.
The 39-year-old Serbian rolled back the years on Centre Court to edge past Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest quarter-final in SW19 history.
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Djokovic celebrates winning his Men’s Singles quarter final match against Felix Auger Aliassime – the longest quarter-final in SW19 history Credit: EPA
Opponent Jannik Sinner looked fresh, dangerous and ready to retain his crown in his quarter-final match – and is the bookies’ favourite to win Credit: Getty
Spanning five hours and 15 minutes, Djokovic beat the 11pm All England Club curfew by a mere eight minutes, sealing a dramatic 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 victory under the roof.
Despite needing a medical timeout for a tweaked calf, the 24-time Grand Slam champion proved he still has the stomach for a fight.
But the road to a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title doesn’t get any easier from here.
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Djokovic will return to the hallowed grass of Centre Court on Friday, July 10.
The exact timings are yet to be set by tournament organisers, but the men’s semi-finals traditionally kick off from 1.30pm.
Because Djokovic went the distance in his quarter-final marathon, the two-day rest period will be crucial for the veteran to patch up his aching muscles – and that troublesome calf.
Expect him to feature in the prime-time afternoon slot on Friday.
Who is his semi-final opponent – and how might the match play out?
Djokovic is set for a showdown against world No1 and defending champion, Jannik Sinner.
The Italian sensation sailed into the final four after putting on a masterclass against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, looking fresh, dangerous and ready to retain his crown.
This semi-final is a repeat of last year’s clash, where Sinner shattered Djokovic’s dreams on Centre Court before lifting the golden trophy.
It’s likely to be a war of attrition. Sinner is in the form of his life, and at just 24, has the youth, the speed, and the confidence to run the ageing Djokovic ragged.
But you can never rule out the Serb, who should be able to rely on his tactical brain and mental toughness.
He’ll look to shorten the points, mix up the pace, and target Sinner’s second serve to bring the vocal SW19 crowd into the match.
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Jannik Sinner is looking to retain the title with rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured.
But can Novak Djokovic claim a record 25th Grand Slam triumph and crown himself as the greatest player of all-time?
On the women’s side, No1 seed Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Iga Swiatek have both been knocked out of the tournament, while Coco Gauff is looking to claim the crown.
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If Djokovic can withstand an early onslaught, his unparalleled experience in five-set epics might just give him the edge.
But bookies have Sinner down as the hot favourite to win another classic.
How can I watch the game on the BBC?
You won’t miss a single second of the action because the BBC has got Wimbledon 2026 completely covered.
UK viewers can catch the entire semi-final live across the network.
Live coverage of the day’s action will kick off across BBC One and BBC Two at 11am on Friday.
Clare Balding will be leading the presentation from the studio, joined by a star-studded punditry team including John McEnroe and Tim Henman to give you all the expert breakdown.
The broadcast usually switches between channels throughout the afternoon and evening to accommodate things like the evening news, so keep your remote handy.
If you are on the go or stuck at work, you can stream the match live on BBC iPlayer via your phone, tablet, or smart TV.
You can also catch up on full match replays if you miss the live action.
