Novak Djokovic sets up semi-final showdown with Jannik Sinner after edging Felix Auger-Aliassime in five sets at Wimbledon 2026

Novak Djokovic will face defending champion Jannik Sinner in a blockbuster semi-final after surviving a five-set thriller with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Serb overcame an issue with his left calf to secure his 15th last-four appearance in SW19 thanks to a 7-6 3-6 6-3 6-7 7-6 (10-4) success after five hours and 15 minutes on Centre Court.

The 39-year-old had a medical time-out for an issue with his left leg late in a first set that concluded in an epic tie-break.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion rode his luck but eventually won it by a 12-10 scoreline to seize the opener after one hour and 22 minutes.

There was little drama in the second stanza until Djokovic double faulted to surrender his serve in the eighth game, allowing Auger-Alliassime to dig out a hold and level the match.

The seventh seed became embroiled in a disagreement with the Wimbledon supervisor over the closure of the roof ahead of the third set, but found another level to break the Canadian’s imperious serve and regain the advantage at two-sets-to-one.

Djokovic continued to red-line as he broke immediately at the start of the fourth, but a sudden dip saw the third seed unload on the backhand and level at 2-2.

Neither player budged until the second tie-break of the contest, when Auger-Aliassime was more solid and claimed it 7-4 to force the decider.

It was cagey throughout the fifth, but Djokovic went through the gears in the match tie-break to win it 10-4 and break the Canadian’s heart.

Novak Djokovic is the third player in the Open Era to reach 15 Men’s Singles semi-finals at a single Grand Slam event, after Roger Federer (Australian Open) and Rafael Nadal (Roland Garros).

It’s the seven-time champion who prevails in the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history.

The Serb goes into lockdown mode in the match tie-break and earns multiple match points when Felix flashes a tired forehand off the island.

Djokovic sizzles a forehand down the line on the first of them and FAA can't keep it on the island.

The seventh seed takes the match tie-break 10-4 to conclude a remarkable contest.

Felix throws the kitchen sink at Nole and you can hear the 39-year-old’s exertions as he strains to maintain his break advantage at 4-3.

The Serb resists all the way and FAA drills a forehand into the net to leave the NoleFam contingent in the crowd roaring with delight.

It’s more routine on Djoker’s next serve to move him 6-3 up and the finish line moves nearer when Felix slices long to hand over another mini break.

The Canadian just about stays in it with a timely first serve, but Nole moves within two points of victory when the third seed dumps a poor backhand into the net.

Djokovic has the crowd on their feet and points to his ear as he deploys a fabulous crosscourt re-drop to kick off this match tie-break in style.

The Serb forces the backhand error to earn the first mini break, but he drills into the net off that same wing to hand it back.

Felix moves forward to try and level but snaps a volley into the net and the seventh seed has the edge at the first change of ends in a breaker to 10.

Felix blinks first in a high-octane exchange as he zaps a forehand way long.

The Canadian responds with a tremendous forehand down the line but Nole thumps an even bigger one to threaten at 15-30.

The third seed comes up clutch with a couple of thunderous first serves and ace No.29 down the T to take us into a match tie-break!

The seven-time champion motors into a 30-0 lead with a big serve and a searing crosscourt forehand.

Felix reduces the arrears with a devilish low slice but sees her hopes evaporate when he overcooks a red-hot, probing forehand just long.

Djoker marches to his chair with real authority as a hold to 15 guarantees him the minimum of a match tie-break.

Djokovic looks aghast as a looping, deep forehand return lands a whisker long in the opening point.

It’s not the start he was hoping for and there’s no look-in from there as FAA zaps down a massive serve and bats away a volley before glossing over a double fault when Nole fails to find the island.

Djokovic double faults to open and is left trying to play catch-up at 0-30 after a weak forehand into the net.

FAA drills a make-able backhand long and sees his hopes erode when the Serb follows a velvety dropper with a crushing first serve.

The Canadian can’t make the following return and Nole throws his hands into the air and asks for more noise from the crowd.

Djokovic puffs out his cheeks as he laments a near miss with a clever lob that drops just long.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion does flummox FAA with a sumptuous dropper and presses to Pulp (30-30) with a trademark backhand bullet down the line.

Felix retorts with a wrong-footing plus-one forehand and a timely ace edges him out of potential danger.

Djokovic looks relieve when a blur of pace from Felix sees him track down a crosscourt dropper but lift his pick-up wide.

The Serb surges clear from there and a love hold keeps him in pole position on the board heading into the business end of the set.

Felix deploys a delightful serve and volley to ease through another hold to 30 and we remain locked in this decider.

Djokovic is also satisfied to stroll to his chair with a stress-free hold to 15 tucked under his arm.

Both players may be in energy conservation mode right now, waiting for the moment to present to go all in…

Felix rattles down a flurry of aces to rampage through a calming love hold and there remains nothing between these two heading to the four and a half hour mark!

Djokovic ticks off another hold with very little stress as a frustrated FAA fires another return off the island to allow the seventh seed to clinch the game to 15.

Felix lands his 24th ace of the contest but will wish he’d immediately followed it with No.25 as Nole claws his way back from 40-15 down to threaten early in this decider.

Indeed, the Canadian skews a horrible backhand wide to cough the break point but swats it away with a 1-2 punch via a drive volley.

The third seed survives two more break opportunities and cannons down a huge wide serve as his get-out-of-jail-free card to hold.

Djokovic was unhappy with life in general for much of that fourth set, but he resets here in the knowledge any lapse now could be fatal.

The seventh seed holds to 15 to secure the scoreboard advantage at the start of the fifth.

We are going the distance!

Felix sticks to basics by making sure he lands that first serve, moving to the net when required and earning three set points when Nole drills long.  

The Serb lands an ace down the T to wipe out one but thuds a forehand into the net on the second to allow FAA to take the breaker 7-4.

Felix charges to the net to knock away a sharp volley and earn the mini break at 2-0.

Djokovic bites back from 3-1 down but an energy-sapping rally prior to the change of ends sees the Serb drill a tired backhand into the net.

‘Sorry, not sorry,’ – is the inner thought of Felix as he apologies with a hand in the air following a dead net cord off a forehand down the line.

It gives Djokovic work to do at 0-30 but he’s up to the task and surges through four points in a row to book a spot in the breaker.