Novak Djokovic will face world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon 2026 semi-finals on Friday, a repeat of last year's last-four meeting which Sinner won in straight sets. The stakes are high for the 39-year-old Serb, who is chasing an outright record 25th Grand Slam singles title that would break his tie with Margaret Court, needing two more wins to do so. The match carries added intrigue because Djokovic arrives having endured a gruelling five-hour, 15-minute quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime that finished close to 11pm.

Age, court time and recent form appear to favour Sinner, who is injury-free, has not dropped a set since a five-set opening win over Miomir Kecmanovic, and leads the head-to-head 6-5. The Italian has served strongly, hitting 97 aces to 16 double faults across five matches after shortening his ball toss, and won 84% of first-serve points against Jan-Lennard Struff. Djokovic, however, took their most recent meeting at the Australian Open semi-finals in January — where he saved 16 of 18 break points — and needed a medical timeout for an apparent left calf issue against Auger-Aliassime, though his movement late in that match was described as astonishing.