he 24-time major champion battled past Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in a gruelling five-hour and 15-minute contest, winning 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(10-4) to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Championships.

The victory sends Djokovic into the last four at Wimbledon for the eighth consecutive time and marks his 55th Grand Slam semi-final appearance overall, extending one of the most extraordinary records in men’s tennis.

Played on Centre Court, the encounter quickly developed into a test of endurance, concentration and physical resilience. Neither player was willing to surrender ground, with three of the five sets requiring tie-breaks before a winner could be determined.

Djokovic appeared in control after taking a two-sets-to-one lead, but Auger-Aliassime refused to fade away. The Canadian raised his level in the fourth set and forced a deciding fifth, turning the match into one of the most dramatic contests of this year’s tournament.

The Serbian star was also forced to deal with a physical concern during the match. He required a medical timeout for a calf issue, creating uncertainty over his ability to finish strongly. However, the injury did little to diminish his competitive intensity.

As the deciding set progressed, both players held serve under immense pressure. The contest eventually moved into a final-set tie-break, where Djokovic’s experience proved decisive. He quickly gained control of the points and closed out the match to book another Wimbledon semi-final appearance.

The achievement carries additional significance given Djokovic’s age and longevity at the highest level of the sport.

At 39 years and 51 days old, he has become the second-oldest player in the Open Era to reach a Wimbledon men’s singles semi-final. Only Australian great Ken Rosewall, who achieved the feat in 1974 at the age of 39 years and 246 days, was older.

For Djokovic, the latest milestone comes 19 years after his first Wimbledon semi-final appearance, underlining a career that has remained competitive across nearly two decades.

The match also highlighted the tactical side of Djokovic’s game. Throughout the contest, he repeatedly targeted Auger-Aliassime’s backhand wing, forcing the Canadian into difficult exchanges. While Auger-Aliassime matched him for long stretches and produced some of the tournament’s most impressive shot-making, Djokovic consistently found solutions during the biggest moments.

The win ends an uncomfortable run for the Serbian against top-ranked opposition at Wimbledon. He had suffered defeats to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2023 and 2024 finals and was beaten by Jannik Sinner in last year’s semi-final.

Now another high-profile challenge awaits.

Djokovic will face world number one Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, a matchup that is expected to attract significant attention across the tennis world. Sinner’s victory over Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon semi-final remains fresh in memory, adding extra intrigue to their latest meeting.

For Wimbledon, Djokovic’s continued presence ensures that one of the sport’s greatest champions remains firmly in the hunt for another Grand Slam title. For the Serbian, meanwhile, the record-breaking quarter-final victory keeps alive his pursuit of yet another historic triumph on the grass courts of London.