Novak Djokovic ties Roger Federer with 46 Slam semifinals and meets Jannik Sinner next at Wimbledon

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Djokovic pursues more history-making victories and more milestones, he is well aware that every opponent he faces would love nothing more than to stop him. «I know they want… to win. But it ain't happening, still,» he told the crowd at Wimbledon on Tuesday after reaching a 46th Grand Slam semifinal to tie Roger Federer's record for men.

Hearing the spectators' loud reaction to that boast, Djokovic laughed and observed about himself: «Very humble.» His 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Andrey Rublev was the 33rd in a row at the All England Club for Djokovic, moving him closer to a fifth consecutive championship and eighth overall there — which would pull him even with Federer on both counts. «I feel,» Rublev said about Djokovic, «like he's playing better and better.» Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, is also pursuing a 24th career major trophy. He already set the men's mark in that category by collecting No.

23 at the French Open last month, pulling ahead of Rafael Nadal. Federer is next on the list with 20. The only real blip for Djokovic came when the No.

7-seeded Rublev broke him with a forehand winner to lead 5-4 at the outset, then served out the opening set. From there, Djokovic saved all seven break points he faced and pulled away, dropping Rublev to 0-8 in Grand Slam quarterfinals. «Every time when he had a chance, this little chance,» Rublev said, «he (made) them.

All of them.» Well, not quite. Djokovic failed to convert any of his three break points in the opening set. After that? He went 5 for 9.

Next up for Djokovic is a matchup against No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner, who made it to the semifinals at a major tournament for the first time by beating Roman Safiullin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 earlier Tuesday. Djokovic has