Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon on Tuesday after a marathon quarterfinal match against Felix Auger-Aliassime. The two players battled for five hours and 15 minutes on Centre Court, marking the longest quarterfinal in the tournament’s history. Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, ultimately prevailed 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (10-4) in a closely contested encounter that featured multiple tiebreaks and physically demanding rallies.
The decisive moment came deep in the fifth-set super tiebreaker, where Auger-Aliassime, a 25-year-old Canadian known for his powerful forehand, failed to capitalize on a central shot, sending it wide to give Djokovic a 9-4 lead. Both players showed clear signs of exhaustion, leaning on their rackets as they caught their breaths. Djokovic, despite his fatigue, rallied the crowd for more support before securing the final point.
“I’m still able to battle these young guys that have 15 years less than me,” Djokovic said after the match. “I’m able to beat them at the tightest possible scoreline... In a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself.” His victory extended his record of consecutive Wimbledon semifinal appearances to eight, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous mark for men’s singles at the grass-court Grand Slam.
Auger-Aliassime praised Djokovic’s resilience and consistency, saying, “We know, because we’ve seen him so much, but it’s so impressive that he does it time and time again.” The Canadian indicated the match was among his best performances on the London grass.
Djokovic is now set to face defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals as he pursues a 25th Grand Slam title, a milestone that would further solidify his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
Meanwhile, other notable players featured at Wimbledon are preparing for upcoming tournaments on different surfaces. American Taylor Fritz, who also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, along with peers such as Felix Auger-Aliassime and Naomi Osaka, has committed to compete at the Washington Open. Jessica Pegula, a former Washington champion and recent Wimbledon quarterfinalist, will also return to Washington where she won her first WTA title in 2019.
The Washington Open field has been bolstered by wild card entries including former champions and popular figures such as Venus Williams, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jack Draper, and Kei Nishikori. Tournament officials highlighted the strong lineup as a major draw for fans, emphasizing the mix of established stars and emerging talents.
With Wimbledon nearing its conclusion, several players are already gearing up for the transition to hard courts, aiming to carry momentum forward at the Washington Open and beyond.