Wimbledon 2025 live: Djokovic calls medical timeout and trails dominant Sinner as Alcaraz awaits in final

Wimbledon men’s semi-finals live

• Novak Djokovic overcomes injury scare to make it into semi-final against Jannik Sinner
• Djokovic, a seven-time champion here, trails the world No 1 by two sets to love
• Two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz beats Taylor Fritz in first men’s semi-final
• Spaniard struggled with eye issue briefly in first set but was able to recover
• Two fans treated in the stands, with at least one appearing to faint in heat
• Amanda Anisimova through to final after thrilling win against Aryna Sabalenka
• Iga Swiatek thrashes Belinda Bencic to reach her first Wimbledon final

Djokovic 3-6 3-6 3-0 Sinner*

Djokovic backs up the break and now this semi-final has some life again, even if Djokovic has some physical concerns. That forehand is being struck with more purpose and he pushes Sinner out wide, before the Italian nets on the reply.

Djokovic breaks! Djokovic 3-6 3-6 2-0 Sinner

Oh hello? On 30-30, Sinner shanks a wild forehand and sends is rocketing into the stands.

A break point? From nowhere? And Djokovic takes it as Centre Court roars! Sinner nets on the forehand!

The World No 1 must have just totally switched off there!

Djokovic 3-6 3-6 1-0 Sinner*

Djokovic with a simple enough hold of serve to start the third set but if he is struggling physically he’s going to find it even tougher to make any sort of impression on the Sinner serve.

Djokovic 3-6 3-6 Sinner

Djokovic returns to court after receiving his treatment. To be honest, he needs the sort of miracle now that Sinner got when Grigor Dimitrov retired from their fourth-round match earlier this week. Otherwise, we are heading for an immediate rematch of last month’s French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner.

Djokovic takes medical timeout! Djokovic 3-6 3-6 Sinner

Djokovic calls the medical timeout. The 38-year-old, of course, had that heavy fall right at the end of his quarter-final win over Flavio Cabolli and he missed his practice session on Thursday.

Clearly, Djokovic is struggling but Sinner has been so good today and so dominant behind his first-serve. 6-3 6-3 is almost as good as Alcaraz taking the first two sets 6-2 6-2 in last year’s final.

Djokovic calls trainer! Djokovic 3-6 3-6 Sinner

The trainer is coming out for Djokovic and he is pointing to his upper right leg. Clearly something is wrong because he’s been so comprehensively outplayed by the World No 1 today.

SECOND SET! Djokovic 3-6 3-6 Sinner

A double fault from Sinner on the opening point, just his second of the match. Djokovic has been able to get to 0-15 a few times without applying further pressure.

Sinner digs in as Djokovic presses on the baseline rally, then an off-balanced Djokovic nets on the backhand!

Djokovic goes long on the return... and it brings up two set points for Sinner.

And that was never in doubt! Sinner thunders down an ace out wide.

Djokovic 3-6 3-5 Sinner*

The other problem for Djokovic is that Sinner is winning the majority of points against his second serve, putting suffocating pressure on the points behind the second-set return.

Djokovic is able to find enough first serves to get back to game point and he does, at last, get the hold. But that was a huge effort and Sinner will have the chance to serve for the second set next.

*Djokovic 3-6 2-5 Sinner

Djokovic saves set point with an ace! And another! He goes from set point down to game point but Sinner hangs around and wins another scrambling exchange to get to deuce. He’s out-running Djokovic as well as out-playing him.

Deuce.

*Djokovic 3-6 2-5 Sinner

Could Sinner close the set here?! Wonderful point from the Italian as he reads Djokovic at the net and puts the volley into the open court to win the exchange. 0-30 and two points away.

Djokovic responds with good serving to get back to 30-30. Can he dig himself out.

WOW. Sinner with a scorching forehand down the line! That was a rocket from the World No 1!

Set point.

*Djokovic 3-6 2-5 Sinner

There are the first few cries of ‘Nole, Nole’ as Djokovic edges ahead to 0-15. But Sinner wins the next four points in a blink of eye. He’s up to 27 from 29 first-serve points won. Djokovic has not got close to breaking it so far.

Djokovic 3-6 2-4 Sinner*

Serve-and-volley Djokovic finds some more success. The seven-time champion is barely winning any of the longer rallies so is doing anything possible to shorten the points.

An ace down the middle seals the hold. But he needs to break this Sinner machine in one of the next two games and if he doesn’t he will quickly find himself two sets down.

(Getty Images)

*Djokovic 3-6 1-4 Sinner

Djokovic looks to close the net behind a backhand slice on 15-15 but Sinner finds the pass down the line with yet another winner.

Sinner fires another ace out wide to hold. The Italian has 20 winners to just seven unforced errors. A ludicrous ratio.

In terms of total points won, it’s 46-28 to Sinner. Total domination.

(Getty Images)

Djokovic 3-6 1-3 Sinner*

Djokovic switches up his tactics by going to serve and volley. He had to do something as Sinner is eating his serve up on the returns.

Djokovic holds and lands a stunning forehand winner crosscourt. The Centre Court crowd responds and tries to get him going. They want a match.

*Djokovic 3-6 0-3 Sinner

Before the start of this game, Sinner had won 15 out of 15 points when he got his first serve in play.

Djokovic stops that run as he clips the net-cord with his forehand down the line.

Instead, Sinner makes it 19/20 behind first serve as he blasts back-to-back aces, one down the line and one out wide.

This level from Sinner is just too good right now.

Djokovic 3-6 0-2 Sinner*

Sinner marches into a 0-30 lead on Djokovic’s serve, pinning the 38-year-old behind the baseline and then striking the forehand down the line.

Djokovic gets back to 30-30 but Sinner then pastes a beauty of a backhand down the line - bringing up break point.

Djokovic blasts the forehand wide! Sinner breaks in the second set!

*Djokovic 3-6 0-1 Sinner

Wow. So good from Sinner as he thumps down an ace and then seals another love-hold with a vicious forehand winner crosscourt.

Djokovic needs to get the crowd behind him. It’s very quiet on Centre Court right now given how dominant Sinner is in this match.

(Getty Images)

FIRST SET! Djokovic 3-6 Sinner*

Djokovic can’t close out the game behind serve and a loose forehand from the middle of the baseline squirms out.

A third set point for Sinner and he takes it this time! Sinner’s return finds the baseline and Djokovic fires long.

A dominant opening set for the World No 1. Work to do for Djokovic but, compared to last month’s French Open semi-final, this is proving a much simpler task for Sinner here.

(Getty Images)

Carlos Alcaraz storms into third Wimbledon final with historic double in his grasp

Kieran Jackson on Centre Court

With Bjorn Borg observing stoically from the Royal Box, Carlos Alcaraz is now one match away from emulating the great Swede. The 22-year-old, tennis’s biggest hotshot property, who is in the form of his life and is now on a 24-match win streak dating back to April, is chasing the ‘double double’: winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon back-to-back.

Borg did it three times, in fact, from 1978-1980, but it's something Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all missed out on. Yet just three years since he first burst onto the world scene in 2022, Alcaraz is on the cusp of a sensational feat. And despite flirting with a final-set decider in the semi-finals here against world No 5 Taylor Fritz, it felt somewhat inevitable that Alcaraz would hit his superlative heights when it mattered most.

Djokovic saves set points! *Djokovic 3-5 Sinner

Djokovic is looking very subdued... can Sinner get this done against serve as Djokovic slimps a forehand into the net to bring up 15-30?

Djokovic changes it up with the serve and volley but Sinner reaches it and wins a scrambling point, showing excellent footwork, to finally put away the smash.

Two set points. Djokovic saves the first with a wide serve. And the second is saved as well as Sinner nets on the backhand down low.

Deuce.

*Djokovic 3-5 Sinner

It does feel as if Sinner is even more clinical when he’s playing Djokovic. He leaves his opponent stranded in the middle of the baseline and pastes the forehand winner down the line. An ace out wide seals the love-hold, with Djokovic barely winning a point against the Italian’s serve, and he moves a game away from the opening set.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Djokovic 3-4 Sinner*

Wonderful defensive play from Sinner to defend his backhand corner and then reach Djokovic’s drop shot with the nudge up the line.

30-30, but Sinner goes long on the forehand and Djokovic holds from there.

*Djokovic 2-4 Sinner

The run of points on serve continues as Sinner moves Djokovic from corner to corner and the 38-year-old nets on the backhand slice.

(Getty Images)

Djokovic 2-3 Sinner*

Djokovic returns with the love-hold. But his problem is that Sinner has the early breakthrough in this opening set. Djokovic has found it very difficult to break Sinner’s serve in recent meetings, with the Italian a notoriously strong front-runner.

*Djokovic 1-3 Sinner

Sinner is flying. Two aces from three victorious points bring him to 40-0.

Djokovic gets on the board, though, with his first point on Sinner’s serve, before a double fault makes it 40-30.

But Sinner gets over the line after Djokovic strikes long, and there’s the hold in the end.

Break of serve! Djokovic 1-2 Sinner*

*denotes next to serve

Ace down the T from Djokovic, but Sinner then wins a short rally with a forehand winner up the line!

That’s the first point won by the returner in this (admittedly young) match. 15-15.

Now Djokovic is steered into the corner, where he punches a backhand long. 15-30.

This is more like it! A really fun rally, with Sinner picking up a deft half-volley from Djokovic to lob the Serb... whose tweener goes well wide!

15-40 and two break points to Sinner...

Break! Djokovic is sent left and right, and eventually he errs with a backhand into the tape!

*Djokovic 1-1 Sinner

*denotes next to serve

Phenomenal serving from Djokovic to kick things off, as he holds to love.

The crowd is very thin at the moment, only because fans went for a break after about three hours spent watching Alcaraz beat Fritz.

Over to Sinner, and he completes his own hold to love!

No rallies of note so far. That will change, don’t you worry...

Djokovic in action against Sinner (Getty Images)

Here we go...

Three years ago, Djokovic won a thriller against Sinner here. Two years ago, the Serb beat the Italian again, but with ease.

Yet Sinner, 23, has won the last four meetings between the pair.

Can Djokovic, 38, end that slide here? Let’s find out!

It’s worth noting that Sinner’s elbow is still in a sleeve after his injury scare earlier this week, when he fell against Grigor Dimitrov, while Djokovic cancelled training yesterday due to his own fitness concerns.

Djokovic and Sinner on court! Read our match preview

With seven-time champion Novak Djokovic and world No 1 Jannik Sinner on Centre Court, warming up, a mouthwatering semi-final is just minutes away.

There’s still time to read Kieran Jackson’s preview:

Alcaraz on his hat-trick bid and Djokovic vs Sinner

Only four players have won three straight Wimbledon titles; Alcaraz has the chance to join that club...

“Right now, I don’t want to think about Sunday to be honest. I just want to enjoy this moment, enjoy that I qualified to another final, the third in a row here in Wimbledon.

“It’s something that’s really difficult and that I have to think about. Sometimes, I have to take my time, enjoy it with my team and close people that I have here.

“I will have time to play and think on Sunday; right now I’m gonna watch the semi-final as well.

“This is one of the most exciting match-ups that we have on tour right now, so as a huge fan of tennis, to be honest I’m gonna try to see it and watch as much as I can.

“Right now, I have to do a lot of things, press and all that stuff, but I will try to find the time to enjoy that match.

“I’m gonna try to take tactics from that match.”

That match is Djokovic vs Sinner, and it’s up next... Don’t go anywhere!

GAME, SET AND MATCH! ALCARAZ WINS

Fritz comes to the net at an ill-advised time, and Alcaraz puts a forehand right at his feet. The American can’t flick it over the net from close range. 7-6.

All of a sudden, it’s Alcaraz with a match point!

TAKEN! Alcaraz dials up the pressure, and Fritz errs one last time!

Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) Fritz

Alcaraz downed Fritz in four hard sets (Getty Images)

Alcaraz saves two set points in tiebreak!

Huge serve into the corner, and Fritz suddenly has two set points!

The first will come on his serve at 4-6...

One saved! Alcaraz draws Fritz in and outfoxes him at the net. 5-6.

And Fritz balloons a forehand out of play, oh no... Another set point saved, 6-6!

A frustrated Fritz (Getty Images)

Fritz turns tiebreak around...

Same again from Fritz, who serves out wide – this time from the deuce court – and Alcaraz is flailing. 4-3.

Still, the Spaniard has a mini-break.

But Fritz gets it back! He goes cross-court on his backhand, then slings one up the line for a winner. 4-4.

Now Fritz gets in front with some really aggressive play, and Alcaraz can only lob a stretched backhand wide! 4-5.

Alcaraz leads tiebreak at change of ends

Alcaraz strikes first, with a strong second serve setting up a winner. 1-0.

The crowd gets going for Fritz as he plays a forehand winner into the open court. 1-1.

Alcaraz wins a very fun point, though, finishing it off with a smash for 2-1.

Fritz then misses, and it’s 3-1. Make that 4-1! Alcaraz with a deft backhand volley, a dropped one.

The Spaniard has no answer for a serve in the corner, however, and Fritz gets back to 4-2 at the change of ends.

*Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-6 Fritz

15-0, as Fritz hammers down a serve then propels an inside-out forehand into the corner for a winner.

Deep serve skims the back of the line, 30-0 as Alcaraz fails to get much on it.

Another serve that Alcaraz can’t steer back over the net. 40-0.

But the Spaniard gets on the board with a cute forehand pass, cross-court, to pick up a short volley from Fritz. 40-15.

Aggressive play by Fritz, but Alcaraz turns the point around and puts some venom on a sliced, backhand drop shot. Fritz’s return effort lands wide. 40-30.

Ace to hold! Well done, Fritz. A tiebreak will follow.

*denotes next to serve

(Getty Images)

*Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 3-3 Fritz

Fritz builds a 30-15 lead but steps in and propels a backhand long. About as unforced as an error gets, unfortunately. 30-30.

Next point, he makes the same mistake but on a forehand! 30-40, break point, and this could mark real trouble for Fritz...

Once more, Fritz follows his serve with an approach shot, again a forehand... but this one is good! It’s a drive volley that forces an errant lob out of Carlitos.

Break point saved. Deuce.

Heavy serve, long return. Advantage Fritz.

Ace! Good hold by the fifth seed.

SET! ALCARAZ IN FRONT ONCE MORE

Fritz with a poor drop shot, and he falls to 0-15. He shovels a backhand long for 0-30, and Alcaraz might yet take the set in this game...

Wonderful pass by Fritz, though! A diving Alcaraz can’t get to a cross-court backhand. He laughs it off. 15-30.

Uh-oh, nothing for Fritz to laugh about, though... He double-faults, and Alcaraz has two set points.

One saved! An ace does it. 30-40.

SET! Another long backhand by Fritz, and Alcaraz leads this semi-final once more!

*Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 Fritz

*denotes next to serve

(Getty Images)

Alcaraz breaks to love

*Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7, 2-1 Fritz

An inspired game by Alcaraz!

A forehand winner - and a few missed forehands from the American - brings up three break points.

The Spaniard breaks to love, running Fritz ragged with a drop shot and lob, the fifth seed eventually smashing into the net.

A huge roar from the Spaniard!

(Getty Images)

SET! FRITZ TIES SEMI-FINAL OUT OF NOWHERE

Fritz with another solid hold, and now he’s 0-30 up on Alcaraz’s serve! A real rarity in this match.

And a double fault by Alcaraz hands Fritz three break points for the set...

Alcaraz fires long on the forehand! He’s broken to love, and Fritz ties the match!

Wow. We have a semi-final on our hands now.

Alcaraz 6-4, 5-7 Fritz*

Fritz levels the semi-final! (Getty Images)

Alcaraz 6-4, 4-4 Fritz*

Fritz brings up break point when play resumes, beating Alcaraz with a forehand winner at the net! 30-40.

But it’s saved! Big serve by Alcaraz.

Now Fritz does well to get to a backhand drop shot, but Alcaraz calmly puts away the ensuing volley.

“Vamos!” shouts Alcaraz, as he beats Fritz in a forehand duel to hold serve!

Two pauses in play as two fans are tended to in the heat

Fritz moves to 0-15 and wants to build momentum, of course, but there’s a break in play.

Another fainting fan? I think more a threat of fainting... They’re in the front row, helped by staff with umbrellas, and play soon resumes.

Either way, no momentum left for Fritz, who sees Alcaraz win the next two points with ease.

Fritz restores parity! He steps in and drive a backhand up the line for a winner. 30-30.

Another pause in play, with a different fan being tended to. This fan seems to have collapsed. They’re taken away on a stretcher.

Here’s hoping both fans are okay.

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 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.

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: 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: