Novak Djokovic Looms Large As Carlos Alcaraz Bids To Reach Wimbledon Final

Carlos Alcaraz takes on Daniil Medvedev on Friday for a place in the Wimbledon final, where history-chasing Novak Djokovic will likely be lying in wait. The Spanish top seed has looked increasingly impressive in his surge to the last four but nobody is betting against Djokovic, who faces eighth-ranked Jannik Sinner. AFP Sport takes a look at the two semi-finals (x denotes seeding -- players representing Russia and Belarus are banned from competing under the name or flag of their countries).

Jannik Sinner (ITA x8) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x2)

Jannik Sinner will not have slept easily after last year's painful Wimbledon quarter-final defeat against Novak Djokovic.

The Italian was two sets up and on the brink of a career-defining win before the Serbian gave himself a pep talk during a toilet break.

Whatever he said to himself certainly worked -- he broke early and never looked back, losing just seven games over the last three sets as he romped to victory.

Djokovic is within sight of two seismic records -- equalling Roger Federer's mark of eight men's singles titles at Wimbledon and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles.

He is not the top seed but candidly says his astonishing achievements at the All England Club make him top dog.

"Judging with the results I had in my career here, previous four occasions of Wimbledon that I won, and reaching another semi-final, I consider myself favourite," said the 36-year-old.

But underdog Sinner, 21, believes he has absorbed lessons from last year's loss as he plots a monumental upset.

"Last year I played a very good match against him," he said. "I have learned about it. Hopefully I can show this also on the court.

"I'm going to stick with my game plan in my mind, and