Novak Djokovic is about to play Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion will resume his quest for a 25th major title when he plays Auger-Aliassime on Centre Court.
Djokovic will walk on court knowing a win would set up a mouth-watering semi-final tie against Jannik Sinner, who defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in the earlier quarter-final.
Give us your one crazy prediction for the second week of Wimbledon!
However, Djokovic may struggle should he reach the semis, according to former British number one Annabel Croft.
Annabel Croft thinks Novak Djokovic has ‘looked a little bit tired’ at Wimbledon this year
During BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wimbledon coverage, Croft shared her thoughts on Djokovic’s fitness.
“I just think that Novak [Djokovic] hasn’t looked himself here,” she said.
“I think physically, he looks a little bit less than he did in Australia.
“I think he’s looked a little bit tired, and I think his movement has not been quite as sharp.
“And it needs to be absolutely at its top notch to take on the world number one.”
After losing in the third round of the French Open, Djokovic didn’t play a professional match before his Wimbledon opener.
With that in mind, you could understand if the Serb wasn’t prepared for five-set matches, although he hasn’t needed them this tournament.
Djokovic hasn’t played too many physically taxing matches at this year’s Championships and has yet to require a deciding set.
Novak Djokovic’s route to the quarter-finals
- 1R [WIN] vs Yibing Wu, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 (3hr, 17)
- 2R [WIN] vs Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 (1hr, 41)
- 3R [WIN] vs Arthur Rinderknech, 7-5, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (3hr, 15)
- 4R [WIN] vs Roman Safiullin, 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 (3hr, 27)
So if he is to play Sinner in the semis, he may have more left in the tank than Croft thinks.
But she was certainly right when she said he will need to take his game to another level to stand a chance of beating the world number one.
Sinner looked excellent once again in his quarter-final match, handling a tricky opponent in straight sets.
Also working for BBC Radio 5 Live, Greg Rusedski assessed the Italian’s performance.
“No question about it, Jannik Sinner is always the title favourite,” he said.
“The other thing, from his point of view, he will be delighted to be through in straight sets against Struff, his last match out here on Court One.
“He’ll be on Centre Court the rest of the way, but also something very strange for him, he hasn’t made a major final this year, semi-finals and then lost early in the French [Open], and he’s been the favourite this year for every major!”
Rusedski continued, sharing his thoughts on the potential Djokovic/Sinner semi-final.
“I would love to see that semi-final, because we saw it in the Australian Open, one of the greatest matches we’ve seen of all time,” he said.
“Sinner won every category except for the important points when he lost to Djokovic down under in Australia, that is the one everybody wants.
“He’s going to have to lift his level a little bit. Serving was magnificent today, forehand wasn’t firing how he’d want, but he got through in straight sets.”
Who would be the favourite in the Wimbledon semi-finals – Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner?
Rusedski believes Sinner is the title favourite, but would he really be expected to defeat Djokovic in the semi-finals?
According to their head-to-head record… Yes.
Sinner leads their head-to-head 6-5, although, as Rusedski rightly mentioned, he did lose their most recent encounter in Melbourne.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic’s head-to-head record (5-6)
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Australian Open – SF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2025 Wimbledon – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2025 French Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 |
| 2024 Shanghai Masters – F | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2024 Australian Open – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 |
| 2023 Davis Cup – SF | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – F | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2023 ATP Finals – RR | Jannik Sinner | Novak Djokovic | 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 |
| 2023 Wimbledon – SF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2022 Wimbledon – QF | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2021 Monte Carlo Masters – 2R | Novak Djokovic | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 6-2 |
Djokovic will hope to repeat the feat at the All England Club, but will be wary of getting ahead of himself.
First, he must defeat Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic and Auger-Aliassime have been scheduled last on Centre Court for Tuesday, July 7.
