Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner: Wimbledon Semi-Final

One of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the tournament sees Novak Djokovic face defending champion Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi‑finals on Friday afternoon. The Serbian, aged 39, is still chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam title, while the Italian is aiming to become the first man since Roger Federer to win consecutive Wimbledon singles championships. Their path to Centre Court begins at 1:30 pm BST, with the winner set to face either Alexander Zverev or British wildcard Arthur Fery in the final four.

When and Where to Watch

In the United Kingdom every court is available live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app. US viewers can tune into ESPN or the Tennis Channel for the full coverage. The semi‑final slot on Friday features three separate broadcast windows on BBC channels, from early afternoon through to the evening.

TV schedule for Friday 10 July (UK)

• 12:30‑19:30 – Live coverage on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
• 14:00‑18:00 – Live coverage on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
• 19:30‑21:00 – Live coverage on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

Head‑to‑Head History

Djokovic and Sinner have met nine times since the start of 2023, with the tally now level at 6‑6 after the Australian Open semi‑final in January. The Serbian broke a five‑match losing streak that summer by winning in five sets at Melbourne. Since then Sinner has taken four of the next five encounters, including a straight‑sets victory at Wimbledon 2025 and a narrow hard‑court win at the Shanghai Masters the following year. Their most recent clash on grass was a Sinner win in 2025, but Djokovic secured a memorable win at Wimbledon in 2023.

• 2026 Australian Open semi‑final (hard) – Djokovic wins 3‑6, 6‑3, 4‑6, 6‑4, 6‑4
• 2025 Wimbledon semi‑final (grass) – Sinner wins 6‑3, 6‑3, 6‑4
• 2025 French Open semi‑final (clay) – Sinner wins 6‑4, 7‑5, 7‑6(3)
• 2024 Shanghai Masters final (hard) – Sinner wins 7‑6(4), 6‑3
• 2024 Australian Open semi‑final (hard) – Sinner wins 6‑1, 6‑2, 6‑7(6), 6‑3
• 2023 Davis Cup semi‑final (hard indoor) – Sinner wins 6‑2, 2‑6, 7‑5
• 2023 ATP Finals final (hard indoor) – Djokovic wins 6‑3, 6‑3
• 2023 ATP Finals round robin (hard indoor) – Sinner wins 7‑5, 6‑7(5), 7‑6(2)
• 2023 Wimbledon semi‑final (grass) – Djokovic wins 6‑3, 6‑4, 7‑6(4)
• 2022 Wimbledon quarter‑final (grass) – Djokovic wins 5‑7, 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑2, 6‑2
• 2021 Monte Carlo round of 32 (clay) – Djokovic wins 6‑4, 6‑2

Quarter‑final Drama for Djokovic

Djokovic needed five hours and fifteen minutes to defeat third‑seed Felix Auger‑Aliassime in the quarter‑finals, a match that lasted longer than any previous Wimbledon quarter‑final. The five‑set score read 7‑6(10), 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑7(4), 7‑6(10‑4). After the win the Serbian said he wished the match had been the final so he could focus on recovery rather than worry about his body for the semi‑final.

Players’ Routes to the Semi‑final

Djokovic opened with a quick win over Wu Yibing, then booked a spot in the last eight by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. A five‑set thriller against Arthur Rinderknech took him into the round of 16, followed by a victory over Roman Safiullin. The quarter‑final triumph over Auger‑Aliassime placed him in the semi‑final.

Sinner began his run with a five‑set victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, then knocked out Nuno Borges in straight sets. After a straight‑set win over Jenson Brooksby, he advanced past Shintaro Mochizuki in a tight three‑set match. The semi‑final spot came from a decisive three‑set win over Jan‑Lennard Struff.

What the Stars Said

Djokovic praised the atmosphere, noting that “these are the kind of moments that I still play tennis for.” He added that he would have preferred the quarter‑final to be the final so he could avoid concerns about his physical state for the upcoming match.

Sinner mentioned the uniqueness of each encounter, stating that “every match has really its own story.” He expressed happiness to be back in the semi‑finals and looked forward to facing the multi‑time champion on Centre Court.

Other Semi‑final Line‑up

With Carlos Alcaraz absent, a first‑time finalist will appear on the other side of the draw. Second‑seed Alexander Zverev will meet British wildcard Arthur Fery in the second semi‑final, setting up a distinct clash between experienced top‑four talent and emerging domestic talent.

The winner of Djokovic versus Sinner will hold the edge in Grand Slam count and will enter the final with either momentum from a hard‑court win or the pressure of defending a Wimbledon title.