Novak Djokovic booked his place in the Wimbledon 2026 semi-finals after overcoming Felix Auger-Aliassime in a marathon five-set battle on Centre Court, keeping alive his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title.
The Serbian veteran prevailed 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-4) in a gripping contest that lasted five hours and 15 minutes, marking the longest Wimbledon match of his illustrious career.
The victory sends Djokovic into a blockbuster semi-final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, with a place in Sunday’s Wimbledon final at stake.
Wimbledon 2026: Djokovic Reaches Semis For A Record 15th Time
Djokovic reached the last four at the All England Club for a record-extending 15th time. However, the seven-time Wimbledon champion was made to work every step of the way by the resilient Auger-Aliassime.
The opening set was fiercely contested, with both players holding serve before Djokovic required a medical timeout after experiencing discomfort in his leg while leading 5-4. He returned to court but was unable to convert two set points on Auger-Aliassime’s serve, forcing a tense tie-break.
Both players exchanged set points in a dramatic breaker before Djokovic eventually edged it 12-10.
Auger-Aliassime responded strongly in the second set, capitalising on a Djokovic double fault to secure his first break of serve and level the match. After the Centre Court roof was closed, Djokovic regained control in the third set, earning a decisive break in the sixth game to move within one set of victory.
The Serbian looked on course for a four-set win after racing into a 2-0 lead in the fourth, but Auger-Aliassime fought back impressively. The Canadian won three consecutive games before forcing a deciding set by taking the fourth-set tie-break.
Final Set Thriller
The final set remained on a knife-edge throughout. Auger-Aliassime saved three break points early before neither player could gain the decisive advantage, sending the contest into a final-set tie-break.
Djokovic held his nerve in the decisive moments, sealing victory at the first opportunity to complete one of the most dramatic wins of his Wimbledon career.
Following the match, the 39-year-old celebrated with a dance dedicated to his daughter before reflecting on the emotional triumph.
I won that match with a racquet and a lot of heart. What can I say? These are the kind of moments I still play tennis for. I wish it was the final, so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow, but I’m happy that I won.
The contest was Djokovic’s 50th five-set match at a Grand Slam, the most by any player in the Open Era, further underlining his remarkable longevity.
The victory also saw Djokovic become only the third player in the Open Era to reach 15 men’s singles semi-finals at a single Grand Slam tournament, joining Roger Federer at the Australian Open and Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros.
At 39 years and 38 days, Djokovic is now the second-oldest man in the Open Era to reach the Wimbledon singles semi-finals, behind only Ken Rosewall, who achieved the feat in 1974 at the age of 39 years and 234 days.
With another milestone secured, Djokovic now turns his attention to Sinner as he continues his quest for more Grand Slam history.