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Novak Djokovic battled through the longest men's quarterfinal in Wimbledon history on Tuesday, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set Centre Court epic to set up a high-profile semifinal against defending champion Jannik Sinner.
The 39-year-old Serb overcame a calf injury suffered in the first set and held off the Canadian third seed 7-6 (12/10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (10/4) after five hours and 15 minutes.
Djokovic had to push through one of the toughest Wimbledon matches of his career before finally seeing off Auger-Aliassime in a deciding tie-break.
He said he survived the match with his racquet and "a lot of heart," adding that he had to manage the nerves and extreme tension that come with such moments. Djokovic also said the finish felt open until the end, calling it one of the best matches he had played on Centre Court.
The win carried Djokovic into a record-extending 15th Wimbledon semifinal and his 55th Grand Slam semifinal overall. He also reached the Wimbledon last four for an eighth straight time, moving ahead of Roger Federer for the longest men's singles semifinal streak at the All England Club.
Djokovic will now face world number one Sinner on Friday for a place in the final, although the question around his recovery will hang over the match after such a draining quarter-final.
Sinner had a more direct path into the last four, beating German veteran Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets. The Italian said it had been a major test and that he felt comfortable physically, describing the performance as a step forward.
Sinner has now reached his 10th Grand Slam semifinal and third at Wimbledon.
In the women's draw, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova both reached their first Wimbledon semifinals.
Gauff came through an all-American quarter-final on Centre Court, beating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The seventh seed, who had never previously reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals, is now two wins away from her first title at the All England Club.
The 22-year-old said she was especially pleased because she had not won a grass-court match in two years before this tournament. She also became the youngest player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments since Maria Sharapova in 2007.
Gauff will face Czech 10th seed Muchova, who beat Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Muchova had not gone beyond the first round in four previous Wimbledon appearances, but she came into the tournament after winning the grass-court event at Bad Homburg in June.
Muchova admitted she had been very nervous, saying Osaka could quickly take control if given even a small opening.
In the men's draw, French Open champion Alexander Zverev completed his delayed fourth-round match against Jiri Lehecka, winning 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6).
The match had been stopped on Monday because of the 10 p.m. GMT curfew, with Zverev already leading by two sets. He will next face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
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