Djokovic battles back from two sets down to beat Sinner in Wimbledon quarter-final

Novak Djokovic had to battle back from two sets down to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals on Tuesday and preserve his remarkable Centre Court record.

The defending champion, bidding for a fourth consecutive title, looked on the brink of a sensational defeat when Italian youngster Jannik Sinner led 2-0.

But for the seventh time in his career, 20-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic overturned a two-set deficit to win 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

This means Djokovic has still not lost a match on Centre Court in nine years — since Andy Murray beat him in the 2013 final.

His only two defeats since — to Sam Querrey in 2016 and a retirement against Tomas Berdych a year later — came on Court One.

But he needed the patience of a saint to beat world number 13 Sinner, a talented 20-year-old with a huge future in the game.

Unfortunately for Sinner, 35-year-old Djokovic proved yet again he is not ready to be consigned to the past.

There was no hint of the drama to come when Djokovic raced into a 3-0 lead but a sloppy service game with two double faults, including one on break point, allowed Sinner — who had never won a tour-level match on grass before these Championships — to draw level.

This is how champions play