'Racket and heart' as Djokovic tames Auger-Aliassime to return to Wimbledon semis

LONDON: Novak Djokovic reached an eighth straight Wimbledon semi-final after grinding down Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10) 3-6 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(10-4) in an epic battle on Tuesday (Jul 7) to set up a showdown with reigning champion Jannik Sinner.

Having surpassed Roger Federer for most match victories at the All England Club with his 106th win in the last round, the 39-year-old eclipsed the Swiss again by becoming the first man to reach the last four eight straight times.

Djokovic got there by coming through the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history, at five hours and 15 minutes, with a gutsy display against a determined opponent who proved hard to break down for much of the contest.

"I won with a racket and a lot of heart," Djokovic said.

"I guess it's the management of the nerves and the extreme tension you feel in these kinds of matches. Towards the end, it was anybody's game. The scoreline was even all the way through. It was anybody's game in the super tiebreak in the fifth.

"What can I say? I mean, these are kinds of moments that I still play tennis for. I wish it was the final, you know, so I don't need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow. But yeah ... I'm happy that I won."

Djokovic's hunt for an eighth crown to match retired rival Federer and a 25th major trophy to move past Australian Margaret Court will continue when he meets Sinner in what promises to be another blockbuster chapter in their rivalry.

"It's just another semi-final for me. I'm going to look at the numbers and everything when I finish my career," he said.

"Right now, it's all business. I still have to recover. I'm still in the tournament, and I have the best player in the world in a few days."

Djokovic, the seventh seed, chuckled after