Novak Djokovic survived the longest men’s singles quarterfinal in Wimbledon history on Tuesday, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (12/10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (10/4) in five hours and 15 minutes to set up a Friday semifinal against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The 39-year-old Serb needed a medical timeout in the first set, came within six minutes of the 11 p.m. Centre Court curfew, and raised his arms in triumph on a fifth-set tiebreak that sent Centre Court emptying into a London evening.
Djokovic’s win extended a record that already belongs to him and pushed a career chasing a 25th Grand Slam and an eighth Wimbledon title one match closer. The next test is Sinner, the defending champion and the man who ended Djokovic’s 2025 Wimbledon run in the semifinals. The other half of the women’s draw also fell into place on Tuesday, with Coco Gauff completing a set of Grand Slam semifinals and Karolina Muchova ending Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon run.
A Five-Hour Centre Court Epic
The first set alone took 79 minutes, the Guardian later reported, and Djokovic nearly did not finish it. At 4-4 he skidded on a routine backhand and grabbed at his left calf, calling the trainer and taking a medical timeout at 5-4. The Centre Court crowd held its breath. Djokovic quickly settled back into his rhythm, erased two set points against him at 4-5, and closed the tiebreak 12-10 when Auger-Aliassime pushed a drive forehand volley long.
Auger-Aliassime struck back in the second set, breaking Djokovic for the first time at 3-4 with a double fault and saving two break points with a backhand winner after Djokovic had floated a lob over his head. Auger-Aliassime closed the set with one of 20 aces he hit in the match. The roof was closed at 7:40 p.m., the Guardian reported, with about 90 minutes of natural light left. The Canadian led by a set, and the Centre Court crowd of about 15,000 settled in for a long night. Djokovic, who had taken a medical timeout for a left calf issue in the first set, was now down a set.
Djokovic raised his level in the third, broke in the opening game, and was two sets to one up when the fourth turned. Auger-Aliassime broke straight back, and the fourth went to a tiebreak. The fifth went to a tiebreak too. The match ended six minutes before the 11 p.m. Wimbledon curfew, with Djokovic ahead 9-4 in the decider and raising his arms.
The Records Djokovic Just Stacked
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.
Novak Djokovic, after the match
Djokovic keeps setting records at a tournament that already belongs to him. The latest Centre Court victory added another line to the list. The numbers are familiar by now.
- 15: Djokovic’s Wimbledon semifinals, a men’s record
- 8: consecutive Wimbledon semifinals, ahead of Roger Federer’s seven
- 107: Djokovic’s career match wins at Wimbledon, surpassing Federer’s 105
- 39: Djokovic’s age; the second man in the Open era to reach a Wimbledon SF at 39 or older, after Ken Rosewall in 1974
He has not lost before a Wimbledon semifinal since 2017. He is two wins from his first Wimbledon title since 2023.
Sinner, the Defending Champion, Waits on Friday
Sinner, the top seed and defending champion, needed three sets to beat German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff in the day’s earlier quarterfinal. He has not dropped a set since his first-round five-setter against Miomir Kecmanovic. He won his first Wimbledon title in 2025.
Friday will be the 12th meeting between the two men, with Sinner leading the head-to-head 6-5. Djokovic has won two of their three grass-court meetings, at Wimbledon in 2022 and 2023. Sinner ended that run in last year’s Wimbledon semifinal, beating Djokovic in straight sets on the way to his first title at the All England Club. Djokovic avenged the loss in January at the Australian Open, winning in five sets in the last four to reach the final in Melbourne.
Djokovic is bidding to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and to equal Federer’s eight Wimbledon crowns. The 39-year-old has dropped five sets through five matches at this Championships; Sinner dropped two in his first-round five-setter and has not lost one since.
“It’s just another semifinal for me,” Djokovic said. “I’m going to look at all the numbers and everything when I finish my career,” he added. He said he wished it was the final, so he would not have to worry about how the body feels.
Gauff Closes the Set of Four
Coco Gauff, the 22-year-old American seventh seed, beat compatriot Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court earlier on Tuesday to reach a first Wimbledon semifinal, completing a set of Grand Slam semifinals at all four majors. She is the youngest player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova achieved the feat at the 2007 French Open, the BBC reported. Her four matches at this Championships have all gone three sets, the first time a woman has reached the Wimbledon semifinal through four three-setters in 30 years, the BBC added. When match point landed on Pegula’s serve, Gauff turned to her team and mouthed “how?”
Gauff is into a Friday semifinal against a player she has beaten six times in seven prior meetings. Muchova ended Naomi Osaka’s Wimbledon run with a straight-sets win on Court One earlier in the day, and called Gauff one of the best athletes in the sport.
Muchova’s Court One Breakthrough
Karolina Muchova ended Naomi Osaka’s run at Wimbledon with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win on Court One, reaching a first Wimbledon semifinal at the seventh attempt. The 29-year-old Czech stretched her current grass-court winning streak to nine, ending Osaka’s career-best run at the All England Club. Muchova, the 10th seed, finished with 21 unforced errors against Osaka’s 42, the pair trading 24 winners apiece.
The wait for this Wimbledon semifinal has taken seven attempts. Muchova lost in the Wimbledon semifinals in 2019 and 2021, lost in the 2023 French Open final to Iga Swiatek, and had won zero of her three previous matches on Court One before Tuesday. The Court One match report on Muchova’s run noted her six previous visits to the All England Club had produced either a first-round exit or progress to the quarterfinals, nothing in between, and nothing beyond. “I was nervous, very nervous,” Muchova said. “She’s an unbelievable athlete.”
I played three times before on this court and [my record] was zero-three. Not a good relationship with this court, until now. I’m super happy we finally made it in front of you all. I love grass.
Karolina Muchova
Gauff leads Muchova 6-1 in their head-to-head on tour, and they have never met on grass. Muchova said the 0-0 grass-court record gives her a better balance. Muchova finished with an ace to close out the match.
The Body Question That Hangs Over Friday
Djokovic’s five-set win in sweltering heat leaves a 39-year-old body to recover. He is into his eighth consecutive Wimbledon semifinal, but he has dropped five sets through five matches at this Championships. Sinner dropped two in his first-round five-setter and has not lost one since. Djokovic conceded he would rather not have to play a fifth set on Friday.
The semifinal starts Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Wimbledon 2026 men’s semifinal between Djokovic and Sinner?
Friday. The match follows the conclusion of the women’s semifinal between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova.
What is Novak Djokovic’s head-to-head record against Jannik Sinner?
Sinner leads 6-5 from 11 prior meetings. Friday’s semifinal is their 12th.
How many Grand Slam titles has Novak Djokovic won?
24. A 25th at Wimbledon would extend his all-time men’s record.
How many Wimbledon singles titles has Djokovic won?
7. An eighth would equal Roger Federer’s men’s record at the All England Club.
How long did Djokovic’s Wimbledon quarterfinal last?
Five hours and 15 minutes, the longest men’s singles quarterfinal in Wimbledon history.
