​Novak Djokovic is chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at age 39 as he prepares for a Wimbledon semi-final against defending champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Djokovic endured the longest match of his Wimbledon journey so far on Tuesday, outlasting third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in a marathon five hours and 15 minutes, decided by a match tiebreak. The Serbian’s bid to reach another final comes after last year’s semi-final defeat to Sinner, who then went on to topple Carlos Alcaraz to lift his first Wimbledon trophy and secure his fourth major title.
In Friday’s blockbuster Wimbledon lineup, Djokovic and Sinner meet again following Sinner’s progress to the semis. Djokovic, who defeated Sinner at the Australian Open in January in a remarkable five-set performance that snapped Sinner’s dominant run at the time, will be looking to replicate that form and pull the upset against the world No. 1. The question looming large is whether Djokovic can recover physically from the grueling quarter-final gruelling, though he may view this as his best chance to extend the quest for a record 25th major.
With Alcaraz absent, a first-time Wimbledon finalist will emerge on the opposite side of the draw: second seed Alexander Zverev will face British wildcard Arthur Fery in the other semi-final. The scheduling had initially pitched Djokovic and Sinner as the first semi-final on Friday, but Fery’s surprise run altered the order, and their clash is set for the second semi-final on Centre Court, likely around 5 p.m. BST.
For fans in the UK, every Wimbledon match is streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with access across all 18 courts. In the United States, rights are split between ESPN and Tennis Channel. Friday’s TV coverage is planned as follows: from 12:30 to 19:30, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app will provide live coverage; from 14:00 to 18:00, BBC One platforms will carry live action; and from 19:30 to 21:00, BBC One will again offer live coverage.
Djokovic ended Sinner’s five-match head-to-head winning streak in Melbourne, a victory that came at a crucial moment for Djokovic as their rivalry had shifted since Sinner’s upset over Djokovic in the 2023 Davis Cup semi-finals, when Sinner saved match points to defeat him. After that, Sinner reeled off five consecutive tour-level wins—plus two exhibition matches—before Djokovic managed to turn the tables in January. A win this Friday would bring the head-to-head even at 6-6, and it will be the fourth time the two players have met at Wimbledon.
Head-to-head overview between Djokovic and Sinner: their most recent encounter was at the Australian Open semi-final in 2026, where Djokovic clawed his way back for a five-set victory (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4). In 2025, the Wimbledon semi-final saw Sinner prevail on outdoor grass to set up this rematch, and 2024 also featured their Wimbledon collision as part of this ongoing, closely contested rivalry. As Djokovic seeks a storied eighth Wimbledon title and a priceless entry in the annals of the sport, the clash with Sinner promises to be another defining chapter in their rivalry, with the winner advancing to the final and the chance to chase that historic Grand Slam record.