Wimbledon 2025 live: Alcaraz leads Fritz plus Djokovic injury update for Sinner semi-final

Wimbledon men’s semi-finals live

• Novak Djokovic is an injury doubt for his semi-final against Jannik Sinner
• Two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz faces Taylor Fritz in the other men's singles semi-final
• Amanda Anisimova through to final after thrilling win against Aryna Sabalenka
• Iga Swiatek thrashes Belinda Bencic to reach her first Wimbledon final
• Three fans fainted on Centre Court yesterday – two during first women's singles semi-final, one in second

Alcaraz one set up

Kieran Jackson on Centre Court

A quiet murmur around Centre Court at the moment, with most in attendance seemingly in awe at Carlos Alcaraz’s stunningly high level of play early on.

Taylor Fritz started off sloppily and the consequence? A set down.

A reminder: Fritz has never won a set against Alcaraz. He’s now 0-5.

(Getty Images)

*Alcaraz 6-4, 1-2 Fritz

A few easy points for Fritz, who serves with real power and has Alcaraz unable to get much on the returns.

There’s one early point in there where Fritz’s follow-up forehand goes long, but otherwise, it’s very neat play from him.

*denotes next to serve

Alcaraz 6-4, 1-1 Fritz*

Fritz starts very well in this second set, holding serve to love. He’s served big and kept the points short there, credit to him.

But Alcaraz follows with a tidy hold to 15, winning the game with a lovely, sliced, backhand drop volley.

SET! ALCARAZ LEADS SEMI-FINAL

Alcaraz 6-4 Fritz*

Ace! 15-0. And another... 30-0.

Fritz gets a touch on the next serve, but he’s sent so far wide, and his return is also well wide. 40-0.

Fritz moves to the net, but Alcaraz flicks a forehand right at his feet, and the American can’t get it back!

Set! Alcaraz claims the opening frame.

*denotes next to serve

(Getty Images)

*Alcaraz 5-4 Fritz

Fritz with an ace to get going, but he nets a backhand under pressure from Alcaraz on the next point. 15-15.

Serve and smash, 30-15.

Alcaraz makes it 30-30, luring in Fritz with a drop shot, and countering the American’s own drop shot with a flicked pass cross-court; Fritz dives at the ball but can’t get there!

Break point to Alcaraz, and set point with it, as a rally of deep shots ends with Fritz going slightly long. 30-40.

Saved! Best play of the match from Fritz, who paints the line with a deep backhand then – after a great get from Alcaraz – wrongfoots the champ with a forehand.

Big serve brings up game point, and one more puts pressure on Alcaraz, who can’t get the ball back on the next shot.

Fritz has actually served really well in this set, but will that break in the very first game cost him?

Alcaraz 5-3 Fritz*

Alcaraz holds to love, finishing the game with a serve and drop volley. Just ridiculous, is this kid.

*Alcaraz 4-3 Fritz

Alcaraz tries a signature drop shot out of nowhere, but the backhand lands narrowly wide. 15-0.

30-0 follows, and it becomes 40-0 when Fritz reacts well to a net cord and chips a forehand drop shot over for a winner.

Now the fifth seed drives a forehand long while on the run, after a lovely, accelerated forehand by Alcaraz. 40-15.

Alcaraz’s turn to hit long on the forehand, and Fritz holds well.

Fritz in action against Alcaraz (Getty Images)

Alcaraz 4-2 Fritz*

15-15, then Alcaraz slings an ace into the corner.

Fritz wins a longer rally, whipping an outside-in forehand into the corner and forcing Alcaraz to strike long. 30-30.

Alcaraz gets over the line from there, however, for another hold of serve.

*Alcaraz 3-2 Fritz – eye issue for Spaniard

*denotes next to serve

Fritz gets ahead at 40-15, but there’s a short pause in play at 40-30, as Alcaraz speaks to the umpire about something in his eye.

Play resumes, and a powerful Fritz serves secures the American the hold.

Now, between games, Alcaraz has his eye inspected by a medic and will get some eye drops.

Alcaraz 3-1 Fritz*

Fritz with a strong return, then he steps in on a short shot to slam home a forehand. 0-15.

Parity restored by Alcaraz when Fritz can only fling a deep serve long on the return. 15-15.

Another big serve is too much for Fritz, 30-15.

But a brilliant return now! Fritz steps to his left and punches a backhand down the line, right into the corner for a winner. 30-30.

On the deuce side of the court, Fritz again can’t get his feet right as Alcaraz drives a body serve through the turf, then a sliced ace down the T wraps up the hold.

(Getty Images)

*Alcaraz 2-1 Fritz

Fritz with a let then a fault, but his second serve is still too powerful for Alcaraz, whose return goes nowhere. 15-0.

Again Fritz overpowers Alcaraz to move to 30-0, and it’s 40-0 when a stretching Alcaraz flails at a shot and chops it long.

One more massive serve, out in the corner, and Alcaraz can only get a frame on it.

A hold to love is exactly what Fritz needed!

Alcaraz 2-0 Fritz*

Alcaraz with a hold to love, as Fritz barely gets close to returning any of those swift serves.

*Alcaraz 1-0 Fritz

*denotes next to serve

Really crisp hitting from both men on the first point, until Fritz fluffs a forehand, allowing Alcaraz to step in... where the Spaniard plops a drop shot over the net for a winner.

Big serve and forehand from Fritz on the next point, and Alcaraz nudges a forehand long. 15-15.

Fritz laughs as a ballkid chases a bird off the net!

Alcaraz back in front as he has Fritz running from side to side, before gently stroking home a forehand in the corner. 15-30.

Now Alcaraz brings up two break points! But the first is saved by an ace down the T. 30-40.

Another big serve, but Alcaraz gets really lucky two shots later, as the net cord hands him a winner and the break!

Alcaraz and Fritz emerge on court!

Here we go, then!

Alcaraz and Fritz walk towards Centre Court, with Alcaraz a few steps behind the American.

The warm-ups will begin imminently.

(Getty Images)

The key weapon Djokovic has which could beat Sinner

The first time Novak Djokovic stood up and took notice of Jannik Sinner’s burgeoning talent was on the grass of the All England Club three years ago. The Italian, then just 20, stormed to a two-set lead in their quarter-final on Centre Court. Djokovic, aware of the severity of the situation, headed to the bathroom underneath the Royal Box.

“I had a refresh, a toilet break, and a little pep talk to myself in the mirror,” he would say afterwards. “That’s the truth.” Djokovic would go on to claim victory in five, with a spectacular backhand cross-court winner leaving him flat on his chest, the money-shot moment of the match.

Djokovic also defeated Sinner in the 2023 semi-finals in an impressive straight-sets victory. But this, indisputably, is a different scenario some two years on. And as the two square off once more – five weeks on from the same match-up, in the same slot, at the same round of the French Open – it is the world’s best player in Sinner who boasts a fearsome record against the Serb.

Preview:

‘Disneyland on steroids’: What it’s like to coach at Wimbledon

It is considered by most players and fans the Mecca of tennis, a magical place of carefully curated perfection where every strawberry is the correct shade of red and every blade of grass comes with its own horticulturist. Wimbledon is one of the great sporting institutions and to be inside its walls is to feel like you have access to an exclusive, special place.

Each summer we get a window into what life is like as a player, the stresses and strains and joy and history that all come with a place at the Championships. But what is it like to be a coach? How is it to be in the background, a member of the entourage trying to make the dream come true?

Wimbledon 2025 live: Today’s big story

The 38-year-old suffered an awkward fall very late on in his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.

He picked himself up to finish off the four-set victory but admitted afterwards he would likely not know the full effect until Thursday, and the signs did not appear positive when Djokovic first delayed and then cancelled his scheduled practice session at the All England Club.

The Serbian has already been forced to pull out of one grand slam tournament this year with injury, failing to complete his semi-final against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open because of a leg problem.

How Jannik Sinner explained doping contamination to escape serious ban

Jannik Sinner finally brought an end to his doping saga when he accepted a three-month ban offered by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The 23-year-old was world No 1 when he won the Australian Open in January but he twice tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid last year.

It’s a case that no one knew about for months and one that drew all sorts of questions and criticism from other players who wondered whether there was a double standard at play because of Sinner’s success, were confused about why it was all kept under wraps, and wanted to know why Sinner was allowed to keep competing before there was a resolution.

Here’s the full story:

Sabalenka, fainting fans, and a fall at a familiar hurdle

It was a stop-start first set on Centre Court, but when it settled, Aryna Sabalenka will have been somewhat startled to be down 6-4. During two breaks in play, there she was to help two fans who had fainted, providing water and support. Perhaps she needed a bit of support in return.

The world No 1 is no stranger to the semi-finals of Wimbledon, and she is no stranger to Amanda Anisimova. This was Sabalenka’s third appearance at this stage in SW19, and her eighth clash with the American across the net.

Regardless of Wednesday’s result, she was always going to leave with losing records in both cases: she was already 0-2 in the All England Club semi-finals, and 3-5 against Anisimova. Yet neither of those losing records would have bothered her had they read 1-2 and 4-5, courtesy of a victory that never came on this day.

Yesterday’s report on Sabalenka’s loss to Anisimova:

The key weapon Djokovic has which could beat Sinner

The first time Novak Djokovic stood up and took notice of Jannik Sinner’s burgeoning talent was on the grass of the All England Club three years ago. The Italian, then just 20, stormed to a two-set lead in their quarter-final on Centre Court. Djokovic, aware of the severity of the situation, headed to the bathroom underneath the Royal Box.

“I had a refresh, a toilet break, and a little pep talk to myself in the mirror,” he would say afterwards. “That’s the truth.” Djokovic would go on to claim victory in five, with a spectacular backhand cross-court winner leaving him flat on his chest, the money-shot moment of the match.

Djokovic also defeated Sinner in the 2023 semi-finals in an impressive straight-sets victory. But this, indisputably, is a different scenario some two years on. And as the two square off once more – five weeks on from the same match-up, in the same slot, at the same round of the French Open – it is the world’s best player in Sinner who boasts a fearsome record against the Serb.

Preview:

Wimbledon 2025 live: Men’s semi-finals day arrives

The Wimbledon semi-finals continue on Friday, and it’s over to the men’s singles draw, as Novak Djokovic prepares to take on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz is set to face Taylor Fritz.

But is Djokovic in the right condition to compete? The seven-time champion, 38, cancelled a practice session on Thursday after falling in the last game of his Wednesday-night win over Flavio Cobolli. Ironically, it was Sinner who cancelled practice on Tuesday, though there was no sign that his elbow injury affected the world No 1 as he eased past Ben Shelton on Wednesday.

On the other side of the draw, 2023 and 2024 champ Alcaraz maintains his hat-trick title bid, going up against American Fritz. In the quarters, Alcaraz blew away Britain’s Cam Norrie, while Fritz fought past Karen Khachanov.

The men’s semi-finals follow a hot Thursday, when three fans fainted on Centre Court during the women’s semi-finals. In those matches, Iga Siwatek thrashed Belinda Bencic and Amanda Anisimova upset world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Follow live updates and results from Wimbledon day 12, right here.

Novak Djokovic is checked on by an umpire after falling against Flavio Cobolli (Getty Images)