Novak Djokovic advances to Wimbledon final to stay on track for eighth title

Serbian second seed too strong for Jannik Sinner in a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory on Centre Court

Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his Wimbledon semi-final match against Jannik Sinner. Reuters

Novak Djokovic is one win away from a record-equalling eighth men's singles title at Wimbledon after coming through a tricky semi-final encounter against Jannik Sinner on Friday.

Second seed Djokovic, who is aiming for a fifth straight Wimbledon crown, repeatedly served his way out of potential trouble to beat the Italian eighth seed 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 inside Centre Court.

Djokovic saved all six break points he faced — including a pair of set points for Sinner at 5-4 in the third — and reached his ninth final at the All England Club. It’s also his 35th final at all Grand Slam tournaments, more than any man or woman in tennis history.

The 36-year-old Serb is seeking a 24th major singles championship overall, which would set the mark for the most in the Open era, which began in 1968. Roger Federer is the only man to have won eight singles trophies at Wimbledon. Martina Navratilova won the women’s championship nine times.

Djokovic will meet top seed Carlos Alcaraz or No 3 Daniil Medvedev for the trophy on Sunday.

Victory came tinged with controversy when Djokovic was penalised for hindrance and warned for slow play in the same game during the second set.

The 36-year-old Serb had declared himself favourite for the title on the eve of the semi-final and he backed up that confidence with another break of the Italian for a 2-1 lead in the second set.

Seven-time champion Djokovic stretched to a 3-1 lead in a bizarre fourth game. Firstly, he was docked a point for hindrance following a loud grunt which accompanied a down the line backhand. Umpire Richard Haigh then handed him a code violation for taking too long between points.

"The hindrance early on in the match could have changed the course of the match. I felt nervous after that call, but I managed to re-group," said Djokovic, the first player, man or woman, to reach 35 finals at the Slams.

"It's probably the first time it's happened to me, I don't normally have extended grunts. Maybe it was an echo in the roof. It was a call that I have to respect."

Despite that double blow, Djokovic still claimed the set courtesy of his seventh ace against a player who took a two-sets lead against him in the quarter-finals last year before the champion pulled through in five.

Djokovic squandered three break points in the third game of the third set, then saved two set points in the 10th game. He then turned on his tormentors in the crowd, who were loudly supporting Sinner, by feigning mock tears after he dashed their hopes of a breakthrough for the Italian.

He then dominated the tie-break to rack up victory and close in on Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic was very much the senior citizen of the semi-finals – nine years older than Medvedev, 15 years the senior of Sinner and with a 16-year head-start on Alcaraz.

"I feel 36 is the new 26, it feels pretty good. I feel a lot of motivation," said Djokovic who saved all six break points he faced in his semi-final.