Novak Djokovic, aged 39, has reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2026 after beating Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, 14 years his junior, in a five-set thriller lasting five hours and 15 minutes on Centre Court. The victory underlines why the 24-time Grand Slam champion — now one major from the all-time record — is still regarded as one of the greatest players in history, defying his age to outlast a far younger opponent.

Djokovic overcame a left calf problem early on, which required a medical timeout and hampered his movement in the first set, yet he recovered to move as well as ever by the closing stages, sealing the win in a fifth-set tie-break. Figures including Davis Cup captain Leon Smith and former British number one Tim Henman praised his performance as remarkable for his age. As the last of the "Big Three" still competing, Djokovic now faces Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, with concerns over whether the gruelling match — the longest of the tournament — will take a physical toll, as similar efforts have in the past.