Novak Djokovic reacts after slipping and falling when attempting a return to Italy’s Flavio Cobolli during a quarterfinal men’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, July 09, 2025. (AP Photo)
Novak Djokovic is into the Wimbledon semifinals for the 14th time—more than any man in history. And he did it the hard way.
Despite a nasty slip and fall during match point, the 38-year-old Serbian legend dusted himself off, shook it off with a smile, and finished strong. He defeated Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Centre Court, locking in a blockbuster showdown against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
A Scare and a Smile
Late in the fourth set, Djokovic went down hard on the grass, landing in a painful-looking split. At his age—and with a 25th Grand Slam on the line—it was the kind of fall that could’ve spelled trouble. But he bounced back quickly.
“I’ll see how I feel in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Djokovic said post-match. “Hopefully nothing serious. I want to be pain-free and at my best against Jannik.”
Sinner Shows No Sign of Injury
Sinner, who recently injured his right elbow, played a clean, powerful match against 10th seed Ben Shelton. Wearing a taped sleeve on his arm, he cruised to a straight-sets win: 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4.
The 23-year-old Italian barely missed a step, winning 27 of 29 service points in the first set alone. Any concern about his injury faded quickly.
“When you're in a match with so much tension, you just don’t think about the pain,” Sinner said after.
A Rivalry Renewed
Djokovic leads their Wimbledon head-to-head 2-0, having beaten Sinner in the 2022 quarters and 2023 semis. But Sinner has claimed victory in their last four meetings overall—including a win at last month's French Open semifinals.
“I’ll need to be at my absolute best,” Djokovic admitted. “Jannik has really improved.”
The upcoming semifinal will be a true test—of Djokovic’s fitness, Sinner’s form, and the momentum between them.
Djokovic’s Rough Start
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Djokovic against Cobolli. He lost the first set in a tiebreak and got broken at love while serving for it at 5-3. Frustration flared. At one point, he smacked his shoe with his racket. The sun was high, and the match wasn’t going to plan.
Still, he settled in. He fired 13 aces, won 19 of 21 service games, and used clever variety to outmaneuver his opponent. A delicate mix of drop shots and lobs wowed the crowd. Most importantly, he limited himself to just 22 unforced errors—half as many as Cobolli.
The win puts Djokovic on track to reach his seventh straight final at the All England Club. He’s now one step closer to matching Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles.
What’s Next?
On the other side of the draw, defending champ Carlos Alcaraz will take on American Taylor Fritz in the second men’s semifinal. Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals, setting up a potential rematch.
The women’s semifinals are also locked in: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Amanda Anisimova, and Iga Swiatek vs. Belinda Bencic.
As for Djokovic, Friday’s semifinal will be more than just a match—it’ll be a battle of generations, grit, and greatness. And once again, the world will be watching.
