Day nine at Wimbledon delivered the semi-finals everyone had been waiting for, as Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both booked their places in the last four.
Sinner continued his title defense with a straight sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, but the German made him work harder than the scoreline suggests, bringing his usual first-strike tennis to grass before the world number one found another gear when it mattered.
Djokovic had a much tougher route, surviving a five-hour battle against Felix Auger-Aliassime that ended just minutes before the 11pm curfew. The Canadian threw everything at him, but the Serbian showed once again why he has been almost impossible to put away throughout his career.
The match also featured the slightly odd decision to close the Center Court roof at 19:40 despite both players clearly preferring to continue outdoors, adding more to the inconsistent approach to scheduling, conditions and wild card allocation this year.
Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev returned to complete his fourth-round shutout win over Jiri Lehecka, setting up a quarter-final clash with Taylor Fritz.
Full summary below.
Day Nine Wimbledon 2026 Quarter Final Results
| Winner | Loser | Do |
|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner [1] | Jan-Lennard Struff | 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 |
| Novak Djokovic [7] | Happy Auger-Also [3] | 7-6(10), 3-6 6-3 4-7(4) 7-6(10-4) |
Key Match Recap
Jannik Sinner [1] def. Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3
Jannik Sinner reached his third Wimbledon semi-final and saw off Jan-Lennard Struff in straight sets to keep his title defense alive.
The scoreline looks comfortable, but this was far from a routine afternoon for the world number one.
Struff hasn’t played much of a role since his last run in Madrid a few years ago, but his game is tailor-made for grass: huge serves, heavy forehands, taking returns early and constantly looking to move forward.
The German has never been one to need rhythm to play well, and for much of the first two sets he kept Sinner from settling into his usual baseline patterns.
Sinner found the late break to steal the opener, and although he let an early break advantage slip in the second, he saved a set point at 4-5 with some clutch serving before raising his level in the tie-break.
Once he got through two sets, the third was more of a formality. Struff’s first-serve percentage dropped, the free points dried up, and I don’t think he really had the faith that he could win in nice sets when Sinner started to control more of the baseline exchanges.
The numbers show it was closer than the scoreline suggests:
Sinners: 16 aces, 32 winners, 26 unforced errors, 84% first-serve points won
Stuff: 12 aces, 28 winners, 38 unforced errors, 80% first-serve points won
The second set could have ended differently. Tie-breaks are always 50/50. If you’re a set all or two sets, it’s a big one [difference]. So in the third set I was a bit more relaxed, for sure. His first serve percentage dropped a bit, which helped me feel a little more comfortable. I am very happy to finish in three sets, but he is a very difficult player to play against. So I’m satisfied. Sinner in his interrogation in court.
Struff actually got a lot right, and I think he’s fun to watch. He attacked the net well, kept points short and forced Sinner to come up with answers.
But 38 unforced errors against Sinner will always be a problem against the player with the best hold game on tour, and while Jannik has not looked imperious, he has now won 12 straight sets since his first-round wobble against Kecmanovic.
Match statistics
| State | Jannik Sinner | Jan-Lennard Struff |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 32 | 28 |
| Unforced errors | 26 | 38 |
| Ace | 16 | 12 |
| Double mistake | 2 | 3 |
| 1st serving % | 65% (70/108) | 50% (50/101) |
| 1st Serve point won | 84% (59/70) | 80% (40/50) |
| 2nd serve point won | 50% (19/38) | 49% (25/51) |
| Breakpoints saved | 50% (1/2) | 67% (6/9) |
| Service game | 94% (16/17) | 81% (13/16) |
| Average 1st serving speed | 200 km/h | 212 km/h |
| Average 2nd serve speed | 164 km/h | 165 km/h |
| 1st return point won | 20% (10/50) | 16% (11/70) |
| 2nd return point won | 51% (26/51) | 50% (19/38) |
| Break point won | 33% (3/9) | 50% (1/2) |
| Return game | 19% (3/16) | 6% (1/17) |
| Pressure points | 36% (4/11) | 64% (7/11) |
| Service points | 72% (78/108) | 64% (65/101) |
| Return points | 36% (36/101) | 28% (30/108) |
| Net points | 59% (10/17) | 71% (27/38) |
| Total points | 55% (114/209) | 45% (95/209) |
| Max points in a row | 7 | 5 |
| Distance covered | 1,663 m | 1,656 m |
| Service game | 94% (16/17) | 81% (13/16) |
| Return game | 19% (3/16) | 6% (1/17) |
| Total game | 58% (19/33) | 42% (14/33) |
| Max games in a row | 3 | 2 |
Highlights
Novak Djokovic [7] def. Happy Auger-Also [3] 7-6(10), 3-6 6-3 4-7(4) 7-6(10-4)
Novak Djokovic booked another semi-final at Wimbledon, surviving a five-set battle against Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up a clash with Jannik Sinner.
At 39, Djokovic continues to defy logic, and while this was far from a vintage performance, it was yet another example of his ability to navigate the biggest moments better than anyone else.
Auger-Aliassime came in with the bigger guns, and for large parts of the match he was able to dictate with his serve and forehand, but Djokovic did what he has done for nearly two decades: absorb, adjust and find solutions.
The opening set proved decisive. Djokovic appeared to adjust the bet at 4-4 and needed treatment, but he handled the situation calmly.
Both players had chances in a marathon tie-break, with FAA holding their own set points, but Djokovic held on at 12-10 after a couple of nervy moments from the Canadian, notably a wild driving volley on set point.
Auger-Aliassime responded well, breaking late in the second set to level the match, and after Djokovic regained control in the third and went up a break in the fourth, it looked like the finish line was nearing.
Felix deserves credit though. He didn’t settle, starting to land more first serves and unleashing forehands to force a decisive set.
Once it reached the tie-break final, Novak’s legendary tie-break experience took over.
Djokovic tightened up, stuck to a set plan. Felix blinked first and the Serb pulled off another ridiculous five-set victory just six minutes before the 11pm curfew after 5 hours and 15 minutes of play.
The statistics were incredibly close:
Djokovic: 14 aces, 43 winners, 47 unforced errors, 189 points won
Auger-Aliassime: 29 aces, 74 winners, 61 unforced errors, 185 points won
With a racket and a lot of heart and handling the nerves and the extreme tension you feel in these types of matches. By the end it was anyone. The score was even all the way through. I think it was anybody’s game in the super tie break in the fifth. Those are the kind of moments that I still play tennis for. Novak on his win.
I think he’s incredibly boring, but fair to Felix, because he played one of the better Slam matches of his career, and the difference was the usual small margins: Djokovic saved 11 of 13 break points, returned better when it mattered and just played better in the big moments.
The win gives Djokovic a record 15th Wimbledon semi-final and keeps alive his bid for an eighth title at SW19.
However, he needs to recover quickly. Between the five-hour battle, the calf issue and Jannik Sinner waiting next, the difficulty goes up 📈
Match statistics
| Key statistics | Happy Auger-Also | Novak Djokovic |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | 74 | 43 |
| Unforced errors | 61 | 47 |
| Ace | 29 | 14 |
| Double mistake | 5 | 6 |
| 1st serving % | 67% (133/199) | 73% (128/175) |
| 1st Serve point won | 79% (105/133) | 73% (94/128) |
| 2nd serve point won | 43% (29/67) | 64% (30/47) |
| Breakpoints saved | 85% (11/13) | 50% (2/4) |
| Service game | 93% (25/27) | 93% (25/27) |
| Average 1st serving speed | 201 km/h | 191 km/h |
| Average 2nd serve speed | 165 km/h | 164 km/h |
| 1st return point won | 27% (34/128) | 21% (28/133) |
| 2nd return point won | 36% (17/47) | 57% (38/67) |
| Break point won | 50% (2/4) | 15% (2/13) |
| Return game | 7% (2/27) | 7% (2/27) |
| Pressure points | 76% (13/17) | 24% (4/17) |
| Service points | 67% (134/199) | 71% (124/175) |
| Return points | 29% (51/175) | 33% (65/199) |
| Net points | 67% (35/52) | 67% (20/30) |
| Total points | 49% (185/374) | 51% (189/374) |
| Max points in a row | 6 | 9 |
| Distance covered | 4,015 m | 3,548 m |
| Game won | Auger-Also | Djokovic |
| Service game | 93% (25/27) | 93% (25/27) |
| Return game | 7% (2/27) | 7% (2/27) |
| Total game | 50% (27/54) | 50% (27/54) |
| Max games in a row | 3 | 3 |
Highlights
Soon,
Yesterday’s Suspended Match: Alexander Zverev [2] def. Use Lehecka [13] 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(6)
Alexander Zverev completed a two-day victory over Jiri Lehecka to reach the quarter-finals at SW19 for the first time.
The German resumed on Tuesday with a two-set lead and the match seemingly under control, but overnight suspensions can change things, and Lehecka came out swinging.
The Czech immediately raised his level, winning 12 of 13 points to take the third set as Zverev struggled to rediscover the rhythm he had built the previous night.
The second seed steadied in the fourth, though, and when his serve fires, he’s quite a handful.
Lehecka continued to press, but Zverev won 27 of 31 first-serve points in the fourth set and eventually got over the line in a tense tie-break, despite failing to convert his first three match points.
The numbers were close, but Zverev was stronger in the bigger moments:
Zverev: 12 aces, 39 winners, 82% first serve points won
Lehecka: 14 aces, 47 winners, 25 unforced errors
Zverev saved seven of eight break points and won both tight sets on Monday night, which ultimately proved decisive.
Next up is Taylor Fritz, who has recently become something of a nightmare matchup for him. The American has won their last seven meetings, and given how cleanly he hit the ball against Bublik, Zverev will need to find another gear if he is to make his first Wimbledon semi-final.
Highlights
Wimbledon 2026 Day 10 Quarter Final Matches
- Flavio Cobolli [9] against Arthur Fery [WC]
- Taylor Fritz [6] against Alexander Zverev [2]
