Djokovic Outlasts Auger-Aliassime To Reach Semifinals

London: After Novak Djokovic was forced to play for more than five hours by Felix Auger-Aliassime, the seven-time Wimbledon champion prevailed 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) on Tuesday to advance to the semi-finals against reigning champion Jannik Sinner.

After a long rally, both players leaned on their rackets in exhaustion when Auger-Aliassime’s forehand put Djokovic up 9-4 in the final set tiebreaker. As Djokovic bowed out, he still found the energy to encourage the crowd to cheer louder, swinging his racket for more noise.

Then a huge forehand from Djokovic on the first match point caused his 25-year-old Canadian opponent to make another mistake and finish after 5 hours and 15 minutes, just before the All England Club’s 11pm curfew came into effect.

To celebrate, Djokovic raised his arms high and wide and listened to the applause as he walked towards the net to shake hands with Auger-Aliassime. Then Djokovic did a little elbow-to-knee dance. He often says that his daughter is trying to teach him the moves.

“These are the kind of moments I still play tennis for,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic continues to break records as he pursues his 25th Grand Slam title. He broke a record in the Wimbledon final for the eighth consecutive time and took one step ahead of Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the men’s singles in a row in the grass court tournament.

Sinankar spent less than half the time on the court as Djokovic, who defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Court No. 1 earlier in the day.

Sinner beat Djokovic in straight sets in last year’s Wimbledon semifinal; and Djokovic outscored the Italians by more than five sets in the final four matches of this year’s Australian Open.

“I wish it was the final, so I don’t have to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow,” Djokovic said.

“I was telling the guys to go to sleep after the fourth set, but they didn’t want to listen. I’m glad they stayed because it was honestly one of the best matches I’ve been a part of in my career on this court.”

Medical timeout Djokovic dealt with a lower leg problem in the first set. He grimaced in the ninth game, where he was leading 5-4. He was then treated by a trainer on the subsequent change and took a medical timeout. The coach tested the stability of Djokovic’s left ankle and calf before massaging his calf muscle.

Djokovic had previously bent over to stretch his leg by pulling the toe of his sneakers back. He was also yawning while standing on the back wall.

There was more stretching the rest of the way too; especially late in the fifth set.

“It was really anyone’s game in the fifth-round super tiebreak,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic opposes roof closure Djokovic objected to the decision to close the Center Court roof at 19:40 after Auger-Aliassime won the second set and tied the match at one set.

Djokovic told Wimbledon tournament referee Denise Parnell they could squeeze in one more set before the natural light disappeared.

“We can play a completely different set outdoors. We are an outdoor tournament,” Djokovic said. “Do you remember the first round? 08.20, you didn’t close until 8.30, now you want to close at 7.40. Where is the consistency?”

“You are proud of your rules and you don’t stick to any rules,” Djokovic added.

Gauff is recovering. Trailing one set after untimely double faults, Coco Gauff beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and advanced to the semi-finals for the first time.

With the win, Gauff, 22, became the youngest player on the women’s professional tennis tour to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who completed the feat at the 2007 French Open.

Gauff will face 10th-seeded Carolina Muchova from the Czech Republic in Saturday’s final. 2023 French Open runner-up Muchova eliminated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 6-4 on Court No. 1.

Gauff had never advanced past the fourth round in her six previous appearances at the All England Club. But perhaps the experience gained on the grass court is starting to pay off.

“I think after seven years of playing in this tournament, I can finally walk down Center Court for the first time and not feel nervous,” Gauff said.

Alexander Zverez, who was in second place at the end of the fourth round match, beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6) and advanced to the quarter-finals against Taylor Fritz, who was in sixth place, on Wednesday.

It’s heating up at Wimbledon Under sunny skies, the afternoon’s matches began with temperatures at 29 degrees Celsius (84 Fahrenheit), with the temperature expected to rise to 31 C (88 F).

Sinner, who lost in the second round of the French Open amid a heat wave in Paris, wrapped an ice towel around his neck during the changeover.

Early in the match, Gauff asked the chair umpire: “Do you have an ice pack?” The American applied what looked like a blue ice pack to her cheeks and upper thighs.