Novak Djokovic will play Jannik Sinner for a spot in the Wimbledon final after the 24-time grand slam finalist battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller on Tuesday. 

Djokovic returned to the semi-finals at the All England Club for a record-extending 15th time following a hard-fought 7-6 (12-10) 3-6 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (10-4) win on Centre Court. 

The Serbian and Auger-Aliassime traded blows in the opening exchanges but after going 5-4 up, Djokovic called for a medical timeout due to some discomfort in his leg. 

He returned to the court but missed two chances to break Auger-Aliassime in the following game and take the opening set, with the seventh seed able to force a tie-break. 

Djokovic and Auger-Aliassime engaged in a gripping tie-break in which each player held three set points, but the seven-time winner in SW19 was able to take the early lead. 

Auger-Aliassime responded in the eighth game of the second, breaking Djokovic's serve for the first time after a costly double fault to level things up before the roof was closed. 

That change seemed to benefit Djokovic in the third set, and a break in the sixth game put him within one set of victory, and he started the fourth by going 2-0 up early on. 

But Auger-Aliassime regained his composure and reeled off the next three games before getting the better of Djokovic in the tie-break to ensure the match would go the distance.

Auger-Aliassime saved three break points in the second game of the fifth set, with nothing to split the two players as another tie-break would decide who would progress. 

And the 39-year-old sealed his five-hour-and-15-minute victory at the first time of asking in what was the longest match of his career at Wimbledon. 

Back in the @Wimbledon semi-finals for a 15th time @DjokerNole fends off Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(4).#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/X1S8G4FNBJ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 7, 2026

Djokovic shows a lot of heart to continue quest for grand slam history

Despite spending over five hours on Centre Court, Djokovic still had time to celebrate with a dance routine dedicated to his daughter in the crowd as he edged closer to that elusive record-breaking grand slam title, and his first at Wimbledon since 2022. 

In what was his 50th five-setter at a major, more than any other player in the Open Era, Djokovic did not credit his skill or experience for his victory, but his pure determination.  

"I won that match with a racquet and a lot of heart," an exhausted Djokovic said. "What can I say? These are the kind of moments I still play tennis for.

"I wish it was the final, so I don't need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow, but I'm happy that I won."

Djokovic's victory saw him become the third player in the Open Era to reach 15 men's singles semi-finals at a single grand slam event, after Roger Federer at the Australian Open and Rafael Nadal at Roland-Garros. 

Aged 39 years and 38 days, he is also the second-oldest player in the Open Era to reach the men's singles semi-finals at Wimbledon, younger than only Ken Rosewall, who did so at 39 years and 234 days back in 1974.