Djokovic and Sinner to meet in Wimbledon semifinal Friday

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will renew their storied rivalry in a Wimbledon semifinal on Friday, July 10, a blockbuster clash that shares the spotlight with a remarkable underdog story. Djokovic, a seven-time champion, advanced after a grueling five-set quarterfinal victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday, a match that became the longest Wimbledon quarterfinal in history and was marked by a dispute over the closure of the Centre Court roof. The 39-year-old Serb will face top seed and defending champion Sinner, who progressed in straight sets against Jan-Lennard Struff on the same day.

Djokovic's path to the semifinals was arduous. His match against Auger-Aliassime lasted nearly five hours and concluded just minutes before the venue's 11 p.m. curfew. The contest was interrupted when tournament officials decided to close the roof with the match tied at one set each, a decision both players contested. Djokovic engaged in a televised exchange with the referee, arguing that there was sufficient natural light to continue and questioning the consistency of the tournament's roof policy. Despite the disruption and receiving treatment for a lower leg issue, Djokovic secured a...