Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semi-finals by defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set Centre Court marathon that lasted five hours and 15 minutes, the longest quarter-final in the tournament’s history. Djokovic won 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, taking the first-set tiebreak 12-10 and the deciding match tiebreak 10-4. Auger-Aliassime hit 29 aces.
Djokovic, 39, needed treatment for a problem in his left calf during the opening set. He returned to play and edged the 22-point tiebreak, but Auger-Aliassime levelled the match in the second set. The win was Djokovic’s 107th match victory at the All England Club and earned him a 15th Wimbledon semi-final, extending his run of consecutive appearances in the last four to eight.
The Centre Court roof became a source of tension in the second set after officials closed it. Djokovic objected, saying, “We’re an outdoor tournament.” Auger-Aliassime took the set to level the match, but Djokovic moved back in front in the third. The Canadian then won the fourth-set tiebreak to force a deciding set, which went to a match tiebreak that Djokovic controlled 10-4.
Djokovic’s quarter-final win set up a meeting with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, the defending champion. The draw placed seventh-seeded Djokovic in Sinner’s half, with Auger-Aliassime as a potential quarter-final opponent. Sinner won their semi-final 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, ending Djokovic’s Wimbledon campaign after the five-hour contest.
Sinner went on to defend his title, beating Alexander Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the final. Djokovic had entered the tournament chasing a 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would have moved him past Margaret Court’s record total. His quarter-final win also extended his Wimbledon record, while his semi-final defeat left the title with Sinner for a second consecutive year.
Djokovic celebrated his win with a gesture to the crowd and a dance in tribute to his daughter. The Centre Court audience had already seen another five-set upset that week, when Arthur Fery stunned Grigor Dimitrov, as detailed in this report on Fery's Centre Court upset.
Wimbledon, held at the All England Club, dates back to 1877 and is known for its grass courts and all-white dress code. Djokovic’s marathon quarter-final put him through a demanding test before his semi-final against Sinner, who went on to retain the men’s singles title by beating Zverev.
