Novak Djokovic's ability to recover from a gruelling five-set quarter-final will be the defining factor in his Wimbledon semi-final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday. After a five-hour, 15-minute marathon victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime that ended in the early hours of Wednesday, Djokovic admitted he was uncertain about his physical state. 'Let's see. Let's see. I have an extra day, which is good … Future will tell,' he said in his post-match press conference.
Djokovic's age and workload raise concerns
At 39, Djokovic has reached the semi-finals or better in six of his past seven grand slams, a remarkable achievement. However, his ageing body has shown signs of wear after the physical demands of best-of-five-set matches. Last year, he lost all six sets to Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in grand slam semi-finals. At the Australian Open earlier this year, Djokovic produced a monumental five-set victory over Sinner, saving 16 of 18 break points, to reach the final. That match stands as one of the best of his career, but it also highlighted the toll such efforts take.
Djokovic's path to the semi-final
Djokovic has not been efficient in conserving energy at this Wimbledon. His only straight-sets win came against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round. However, his physical condition appeared strong at the end of the Auger-Aliassime match, with no obvious discomfort. If healthy, Djokovic's game closely mirrors Sinner's: both hug the baseline, take the ball early, and are elite returners and servers. Djokovic's superior speed and variation could give him an edge.
Sinner's form and questions
Sinner, the world No. 1, has bounced back from a physical collapse at the French Open with five wins at Wimbledon. He started the tournament with an erratic five-set win over Miomir Kecmanovic but has not dropped a set since. He recorded a career-best 31 aces in that match and has served excellently throughout. However, his forehand has been erratic, and he has not faced a seeded opponent. The semi-final will be a true test of his level and readiness.
