​Jannik Sinner once again stands in Novak Djokovic’s path toward immortality, but the defending Wimbledon champion is glad his extraordinary rival is still around to chase a 25th Grand Slam. Djokovic showed he still has plenty left in the tank with a five-set victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday night, booking his 15th semifinal at the All England Club. Yet the only number that matters to him is the one etched in his mind: 25.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has been perched on 24 Grand Slam titles, a tally he has shared with Margaret Court since 2023. Even though he turned 39 last month, he remains within striking distance of his ultimate goal as he prepares for Friday’s semi-final against his fresh challenger. Ahead of a 12th meeting with Sinner—who is seeded seventh—and a third duel at Wimbledon, Djokovic was careful to acknowledge the challenge while underscoring his own drive.
“I know I’m capable of beating him if I play well, but I’m also well aware that I can lose, so there is pressure, yes, but I take it all in stride,” Sinner told Italian media ahead of the match. “I’m happy to be on court, I give it my best. What stands out to me is how he trains—the dedication he shows to himself, his body, and everything else. The motivation he still has is incredible. I think we can be very happy that he’s still here, giving 100 percent and trying to win his 25th Slam. It’s great to have him around.”
Sinner arrived in this clash fresh off a streak of five wins in a row, only to be stopped by Djokovic in Melbourne during January’s Australian Open semi-final. The Italian then endured another five-set heartbreaker in Paris, where he fell to Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in scorching heat at Roland Garros. Yet Sinner has dismissed any notion that heat will thwart him, insisting the warmer English conditions have actually aided his game as he has fired 97 aces this fortnight—well above the 62 he amassed in last year’s Wimbledon triumph.
“I definitely need to raise my level a bit. I’m playing quite well; I feel like things are getting a little better every day. I’m trying to serve really well and stay focused on my service games,” he said. “We’ve certainly put in a lot of work over the last two years. We changed the motion, the ball toss, the timing—lots of things. I’m serving pretty well. It’s a little warmer this year than last, so the ball travels a bit further, which helps, but overall I’m happy with my serve right now.”
Djokovic’s long march to a 25th Grand Slam continues to test him, marking the eighth time he has reached the final four of a major since snapping the US Open crown in 2023. Yet the elusive 25th title remains just beyond reach, even as he has already logged substantial court time on the grass this summer—16 hours and 32 minutes, to be precise.
“At this stage, the fact that I’m still able to compete against these younger players who have 15 fewer years on me, and that I can win against them in the tightest possible matches, is a nice surprise,” Djokovic said. “But I’ve always had the highest expectations for myself.”