Novak Djokovic remains on track for a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon crown and a 25th Grand Slam title with a four-set victory over Flavio Cobolli.
Despite a slow start, the Serbian prevailed 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to secure a place in the Wimbledon semifinals for the 14th time – surpassing Roger Federer’s previous mark at the All England Club.
The 38-year-old, who is playing his first major since undergoing knee surgery just weeks before the tournament, was made to work for the win by the 22nd-seeded Cobolli, who played fearless tennis in his Centre Court debut.
“A lot of numbers are swirling around,” Djokovic said post-match, reflecting on the milestone. “But Wimbledon has always been the most special tournament in our sport. To still be playing in the final stages here at 38 means the world to me.”
Cobolli, 22, showed early composure beyond his years, clawing back from 3-5 in the opening set and taking it in a tiebreak with a series of powerful winners that electrified the crowd. For a brief moment, an upset seemed possible.
Djokovic, however, responded with clinical precision. He raced through the second set and began to expose the inconsistencies in Cobolli’s game. The turning point came late in the third, when Djokovic capitalized on a flurry of errors to secure the decisive break at 6-5.
“I want to congratulate Flavio on an amazing tournament and a great battle today,” Djokovic said. “He played at a really high level, and I was particularly surprised by how well he served.”
Cobolli, a former Roma youth footballer who turned to tennis after being inspired by Djokovic’s success, will take plenty from this performance, despite the loss.
The match was not without its drama. Djokovic slipped awkwardly late in the fourth set while chasing a shot but quickly regained his composure. He closed out the match with authority, sealing his 52nd career Grand Slam semifinal-another all-time record.
Next, Djokovic faces top seed Jannik Sinner in what promises to be a marquee semifinal clash. The winner will face either defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or American No. 1 Taylor Fritz in the final.
“It’s going to be a great match against Jannik,” said Djokovic. “He’s playing some of his best tennis. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
As the tournament heads into its closing stages, Djokovic remains firmly in the hunt – not only for the Wimbledon trophy but for tennis immortality.
