‘Racquet and a lot of heart’: Djokovic claims longest-ever Wimbledon quarter-final

London: Long live the king, the king is not dead.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has added another chapter to his legendary story, outlasting Felix Auger-Aliassime across five-plus hours on centre court to lock in a semi-final rematch with world No.1 Jannik Sinner.

At 39, Djokovic is 14 years Auger-Aliassime’s senior, but his hopes for a record-extending 25th grand slam trophy are alive after a pulsating 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-4) triumph.

The extraordinary contest broke the record as the longest quarter-final in tournament history at five hours and 15 minutes, and finished six minutes inside the tournament’s 11pm curfew.

Djokovic faced defeat serving at 4-4, 0-30 in the final set, but strung together the next four points to edge back in front, then played a magnificent super tie-breaker where he simply refused to miss as he finally wore Auger-Aliassime down.

So, how did he do it, again?

“With racquet and a lot of heart, and a lot of management of the nerves and extreme tension that you feel in these kinds of matches,” Djokovic said.

“Towards the end, it was really anybody’s game. The scoreline was pretty much even all the way through ... these are the kinds of moments I still play tennis for. I wish it was finals, so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow, but I’m happy that I won.

“I was telling the kids to go to sleep after the fourth [set], but they didn’t want to listen. I’m glad they stayed because it was honestly one of the best matches I’ve been part of on this court in my career.”

The upcoming clash with Sinner will be their first meeting since Djokovic ended the Italian’s hopes of an Australian Open three-peat in January, winning a late-night classic in five sets to reach the final at Melbourne Park.

Wimbledon titleholder Sinner had a much easier time of it in his quarter-final, defeating big-serving German Jan-Lennard Struff, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, in a comparatively slick two-and-a-half hours.

Told this was his eighth consecutive semi-final and 15th overall at SW19, Djokovic said: “That’s great, but it’s just another semi-final for me. I will look at all the numbers when I finish my career. Right now, it’s still business. I have to recover, and I have [to play] the best player in the world in two days’ time.”

The first set between Djokovic and Auger-Aliassime took 82 minutes to complete, and packed a full match’s worth of drama into it. Little did everyone know that there was so much more still to come.

Auger-Aliassime staved off a break point to reach 4-4 before Djokovic suffered a left calf scare in the next game that left him grimacing for a few points and prompted him to call for a trainer.

Even with that concern, the former world No.1 reduced Auger-Aliassime to 15-40, bringing up consecutive set points, but the Canadian served his way out of trouble and then had a chance of his own to break at 5-5.

But neither player wilted despite Djokovic’s best efforts to attack Auger-Aliassime’s suspect backhand.

A series of set points came and went for both men in the tie-breaker, with Auger-Aliassime fortunate twice on balls that landed narrowly in and out, but eventually, he blinked. Serving 10-11 down, the third seed rifled a big serve out wide, then nailed a forehand to set up a drive volley that he wildly tugged wide.

On his fifth set point, Djokovic finally clinched a one-set lead.

But the contest swung again when Djokovic double-faulted to hand Auger-Aliassime a 5-3 second-set edge. Even then, Auger-Aliassime had to dip deep to complete the set.

Djokovic twice brought up break-back points, and would have particularly rued the second one, when he conservatively steered an overhead into the court, then watched his rival pierce his defences with a sizzling forehand.

A 198km/h ace pocketed the set for Auger-Aliassime, and tournament referee Denise Parnell opted to take the opportunity to close the roof early, much to Djokovic’s chagrin.

His frustration, perhaps, lingered into the opening game of the third set, but he fended off another break point to lodge an important hold.

An even longer game followed on Auger-Aliassime’s serve, but he, too, escaped despite facing three break points. Soon enough, the dam wall busted.

Auger-Aliassime, who was broken just once in his first four matches, imploded at 2-3 to concede serve to love on Djokovic’s ninth opportunity.

Djokovic raced through the third set, then broke Auger-Aliassime to love to start the fourth, dragging the Canadian from side-to-side before expertly flaying a forehand winner past him at the net.

Their form line was going in opposite directions at that stage, but another twist was still to come.

Djokovic inexplicably threw in a loose service game at 2-1, with Auger-Aliassime finding the sideline on a cross-court backhand to draw level.

It was the type of resilience that has propelled the new-and-improved Auger-Aliassime into the world’s top four.

The sixth point of the tie-breaker proved decisive. Auger-Aliassime displayed all his athleticism in an extended rally to stick with Djokovic, then ran around onto his forehand and sent a searing ball into his opponent’s backhand that did not come back.

That left Auger-Aliassime 4-2 up, and he managed to run with that advantage to level what was a captivating contest and fittingly force a deciding set.

But he soon learnt that Djokovic remains an incredibly tough nut to crack.

The other men’s winner was German second seed Alexander Zverev, who survived some tense moments – including dropping the third set – in the resumption of his match from Monday to beat tough Czech Jiri Lehecka, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).

“It’s nice to complete the set of quarter-finals for [the four] majors, but, of course, I want to go further,” Zverev said.

Dual grand slam champion Coco Gauff and 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova locked in the first women’s semi-final spots.

Seventh seed Gauff is now the highest-ranked player left in the draw after rallying from a set down to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula, the No.4 seed, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This was already a career-best Wimbledon for Gauff, who had not won a grasscourt match for two years until this tournament.

“It feels really special considering the results I’ve had of late, and especially on this surface,” Gauff said.

“I think I’m able to relax a bit because I just feel, regardless of how the rest of this tournament goes, [that] I’ve found, like, a bit of a breakthrough on grass. I’m proud of myself. Obviously, I’m not satisfied – I want to go all the way – [but] also, at the same time, I’m just looking at the match in front of me.”

Muchova has long been regarded as one of the most talented players on the tour, but injuries have contributed to her not realising her potential until now. That could be about to change after she ended Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough Wimbledon in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

Meanwhile, Cruz Hewitt is into the third round of the boys’ singles, eliminating 14th-seeded Frenchman Mathys Domenc, 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, with Roger Federer’s twin daughters, Myla and Charlene, cheering him on from courtside.

Hewitt’s power game impressed again, including winning 86 per cent of first-serve points and striking 13 winners. Domenc took a medical timeout for a left ankle issue after the fifth game of the second set, and did not win another game thereafter.

The 17-year-old Australian next faces second-seeded German Jamie Mackenzie, who grew up in New Zealand, for a quarter-final spot.

Australia’s Storm Hunter and Marc Polmans will contest the mixed doubles final after defeating Fanny Stollar and Mate Pavic, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. They will face second seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo for the title.

Marc McGowan travelled to London with Tennis Australia’s support.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.