Sinner and Djokovic set for blockbuster Wimbledon semifinal rematch as defending champion faces record-chasing legend
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will meet 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in a Wimbledon semifinal on Friday, 10 July 2026. The match, a repeat of last year's last-four clash and their 12th overall meeting, is scheduled as the second contest on Centre Court, starting no earlier than 16:10 CET.
A rivalry renewed on grass
Two of tennis's biggest names are set to collide in the Wimbledon semifinals for the second consecutive year. Defending champion Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, will take on Novak Djokovic, the record 24-time Grand Slam winner, in what is widely billed as an early final after Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Sinner holds a narrow 6-5 lead in their head-to-head series, but Djokovic won their only meeting this year in a five-set Australian Open semifinal.
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are set to meet again in one of the most-anticipated matchups of Wimbledon 2026.
Two contrasting paths to the last four
The Italian has cruised through the draw since a difficult first-round test against Miomir Kecmanovic, where he dropped his only two sets of the tournament. Sinner then dispatched Nuno Borges, Jenson Brooksby, Shintaro Mochizuki and Jan-Lennard Struff all in straight sets, looking every bit the defending champion. Djokovic, seeded seventh and ranked eighth, has faced a more demanding route. After wins over Wu Yibing, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Arthur Rinderknech and Roman Safiullin, the 39-year-old Serb was pushed to a five-hour quarterfinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime, prevailing in a super tie-break.
- Djokovic wins
- Djokovic wins
- Sinner wins in semifinal
- Semifinal match scheduled
The history between them
This will be the 12th career meeting and the fourth Wimbledon clash between the two in the last five editions. Djokovic won their 2022 and 2023 encounters at the All England Club, while Sinner triumphed in last year's semifinal before beating Alcaraz for the title. The winner on Friday will face either Alexander Zverev or Arthur Fery in Sunday's final.
El duelo entre el italiano y el serbio ya se ha convertido en una especie de clásico de Wimbledon. De hecho, se trata del cuarto enfrentamiento en las últimas cinco ediciones.
How to watch and match schedule
The semifinal is the second match on Centre Court, following the Zverev-Fery contest which begins at 14:30 Spanish peninsular time. Sinner-Djokovic is therefore expected to start no earlier than 16:10 CET, with some outlets pegging the likely first serve at 16:30 or 17:30 depending on the duration of the earlier match. In the United States, ESPN will broadcast the match from 10:10 a.m. ET. Spanish viewers can tune in via Movistar Plus+, while the BBC will offer free streaming in the UK on iPlayer. Online streaming options include ESPN Unlimited and various live TV services.
What's at stake
Djokovic is chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and his eighth Wimbledon crown. Sinner, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first man to defend a Wimbledon singles title since Alcaraz in 2024 and to cement his status atop the rankings. The Italian has not lost a set since his opening match, but Djokovic's resilience and experience on grass promise a fiercely contested battle.
