Novak Djokovic rallies to beat Andrey Rublev and set up Jannik Sinner semi-final at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Andrey Rublev and reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion dropped the first set against the seventh seed, but raced through the second and prevailed 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3.

Djokovic will next face Jannik Sinner after he beat Roman Safiullin in four sets.

Djokovic, who is bidding for a fifth straight Wimbledon title and an eighth overall to equal Roger Federer’s record, has won both previous meetings against Sinner.

Djokovic will be contesting his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, which ties the record set by Federer.

“In terms of the numbers, they are just numbers at the end of the day, especially during the tournament I don’t like to spend too much time thinking about statistics and the achievements,” said Djokovic.

“Obviously it’s a tournament that is active for me so that’s all I am thinking about, directing my attention to the next match. It’s only going to get tougher but I like the way I played today, the energy on the court as well, hopefully I can have another win in a few days’ time.”

Rublev hadn’t won a set in his last two meetings with Djokovic and was under pressure on serve in the sixth game as he fended off three break points.

But just as it looked like Djokovic might assert control, it was Rublev who broke.

Djokovic slipped and hit into the net on deuce, and Rublev took his chance with a forehand winner.

Another winner brought up set point in the following game, and Rublev sealed it when Djokovic netted.

But Rublev undid some of his good work with two double faults in one game early in the second set as Djokovic opened up a 2-0 lead.

Djokovic saved two break points the next game and then fired a winner down the line to move 4-0 ahead.

Although Rublev got on the board, Djokovic closed out the set with a big serve.

Rublev missed a chance to get to 0-40 early in the third set when he just went wide with a forehand down the line.

He still got two chances to break in the game but couldn’t take either as Djokovic raised his level.

Back-to-back love holds followed before Djokovic broke in the fifth game.

The final game of the set went back and forth over 15 minutes as Rublev spurned three break points and Djokovic passed up four set points before eventually taking it at the fifth attempt.

That looked a key moment in the match, and Djokovic soon moved further ahead in the fourth set.

After successive love holds, the world No. 2 played a brilliant drop volley before Rublev missed with a forehand to make it 15-40.

Rublev saved the first break point but couldn’t do so with the second.

There was no way back from there for Rublev and Djokovic sealed the win with a backhand volley angled across court.

While Djokovic will be playing in his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, Sinner will be contesting his first.

He looked in control against Safiullin at 6-4 3-1 ahead, only to lose the next five games in a row.

But Sinner regained his level to take both the next two sets 6-2 and advance to the semis.

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