Novak Djokovic's pursuit of yet more career milestones continued unabated as he reached a record 14th Wimbledon semifinal and a showdown with world No 1 Jannik Sinner on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Serb recovered from a set down to beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7(6) 6-2 7-5 6-4 and is now only two victories away from an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title.
✨ 52 Grand Slam semi-finals
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
✨ 14 #Wimbledon semi-finals
Both are all-time records in men's singles 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/AGt7rmPNCs
Blocking his path next is a rather more formidable Italian in the form of Sinner who eased any worries about an elbow injury to beat American powerhouse Ben Shelton 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4.
In the women's quarterfinals, Poland's claycourt specialist Iga Swiatek broke new ground by reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal, beating Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5.
That first #Wimbledon semi-final feeling ☺️ pic.twitter.com/Jh248MKyVS
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
The eighth seed will face Switzerland's unseeded Belinda Bencic who edged out Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3) 7-6(2) to also reach her first semifinal at the grasscourt slam.
By reaching a record-extending 52nd Grand Slam semi, Djokovic also kept alive his hopes of equalling Roger Federer's men's record eight Wimbledon singles titles.
It remains a tall order even for a player widely regarded as the greatest of all time, especially with top seed Sinner and Spain's holder Carlos Alcaraz, the two new powers in men's tennis, most people's bet to contest the final on 13 July.
But no one should be writing off Djokovic who has won 44 of his last 46 matches at the All England Club and seems to know every single blade of grass on the historic Centre Court.
Another one to add to the list 👊
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Novak Djokovic reaches his 14th #Wimbledon semi-final with a defiant comeback against Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Centre Court 🤩
What a performance from the Serb 💥 pic.twitter.com/NMntCojSTH
"It means the world to me that at 38 I am able to play in the final stages of Wimbledon," Djokovic, who suffered a nasty slip on match point but appeared unscathed, said.
"Competing with youngsters makes me feel young, like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around the court. Speaking of the young guys, I will have Sinner in the next round so I look forward to that. That is going to be a great match-up."
"Thank you for cheering for my age" 😅
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
It's a 14th #Wimbledon semi-final for Novak Djokovic - the most of any player in the history of the Gentlemen's Singles draw 👏
He's not done just yet 😁 pic.twitter.com/0dCespr5uf
SINNER INJURY
Sinner may well have been back home in Italy had Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov not damaged his right pectoral muscle and retired with a two-set lead in the fourth round on Monday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion also sustained an elbow injury early on in that match and there was some doubt about his physical state ahead of his clash with 10th seed Shelton.
But he produced a clinical performance, reeling off seven successive points to win the first-set tiebreak and then pouncing in the 10th game of the next two sets to match his run to the semifinal two years ago when he lost to Djokovic.
Sinner's on song 🎶
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
The world No.1 takes down Ben Shelton in straight sets, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 to reach the SF#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6McH2zd2kG
Sinner, bidding to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, wore a protective sleeve on his right arm but was rock solid against the big-serving Shelton.
"I had quite good feelings in the warm-up today," Sinner, who dropped only six points on his first serve, said.
"I put into my mind that I'm going to play today. So the concerns were not that big if I would play or not.
"It was just a matter of what my per centage is. Today was very high, so I'm happy."
Swiatek appears to have finally overcome her grass court demons and the four-time French Open champion could not hide her delight at reaching the semifinal at the sixth attempt.
"Honestly, it feels great. I have goosebumps after this win. I am super happy and super proud of myself and I will keep going. I worked really hard to progress here on this surface."
"I've already got goosebumps"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Iga Swiatek's loving her time at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6OaGPKqqKn
Former Olympic champion Bencic became the first Swiss woman to reach the semis since Martina Hingis in 1998 after stunning 18-year-old seventh seed Andreeva on Centre Court.
Brilliant Bencic does it again 🤩
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Belinda Bencic defeats Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(2) to reach her first ever #Wimbledon semi-final - and she does it in some style! 💥 pic.twitter.com/KfjjZv0RrU
"It's crazy, it's unbelievable. It's a dream come true," the 28-year-old mother said. "I'm just speechless."
"It's a dream come true" 🥹
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Belinda Bencic reaches just her second Grand Slam semi-final after defeating Mirra Andreeva - and she doesn't quite have the words to express how much it means! ♥️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/yklXup2KkA
Bencic will face Swiatek on Thursday after top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on 13th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova.
The first silverware of this year's tournament will also be decided on Thursday when Dutchman Sem Verbeek and Czech Katerina Siniakova face Britain's Joe Salisbury and Brazil's Luisa Stefani in the mixed doubles final on Centre Court.