Wimbledon: Djokovic books berth in semi-finals

Centre Court witnessed another tenacious performance from Novak Djokovic as he battled past a resilient Flavio Cobolli. In a grueling match lasting three hours and 11 minutes, Djokovic secured his spot in the semi-finals with a 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory. Despite dropping the first set in a tie-break, the Serbian maestro dug deep, converting his third match point and celebrating with his signature “pump it up” gesture, acknowledging the enthusiastic crowd. He now sets up a highly anticipated semi-final clash against the formidable World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. On the women’s side, Belinda Bencic made history by reaching her maiden Wimbledon semi-final, overcoming Mirra Andreeva in a tightly contested match. Bencic triumphed 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2), marking her first Grand Slam semi-final appearance since the 2019 US Open. Her remarkable return to form after maternity leave has been a highlight of the tournament, showcasing her resilience and determination on the grass courts of the All England Club. Joining Bencic in the semi-finals is the formidable Iga Swiatek, who showcased her dominance by defeating Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 7-5 on Court 1. Swiatek, who failed to reach the top four in 2023, demonstrated her growing comfort on grass. Despite a momentary lapse in the second set where she dropped her serve twice, the Polish star regrouped to secure a decisive third break, sealing her victory and marking her first-ever Wimbledon semi-final appearance. The upcoming semi-final matchups promise thrilling encounters, with Djokovic facing Sinner in a blockbuster men’s showdown. In the women’s draw, the in-form Belinda Bencic will challenge the reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek, setting the stage for a captivating battle for a spot in the Wimbledon final.