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The Serb, also aiming to match Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles, fought back to win 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 in the quarter-finals.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nSecond seed Djokovic, 36, will play Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the last four.<\/span><\/p>\nSinner, 21, reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-2.<\/span><\/p>\nIn contrast, Djokovic will contest a 46th major men’s semi-final – having equalled Roger Federer’s all-time record – when the pair meet on Friday.<\/span><\/p>\nIt is a repeat of their quarter-final last year when Sinner came close to beating Djokovic, before the veteran fought back from two sets down to win.<\/span><\/p>\nFour-time defending champion Djokovic’s hard-fought win against Russia’s Rublev was his 33rd consecutive victory at the All England Club.<\/span><\/p>\nHe has not lost a completed match in SW19 since 2016 and has not been beaten on Centre Court since losing the 2013 final against Britain’s Andy Murray.<\/span><\/p>\n“They are just numbers. In a tournament, I don’t like to spend too much time thinking about statistics,” said Djokovic.<\/span><\/p>\n“It is an active tournament, I’m still in it and all I’m thinking about is my next match.<\/span><\/p>\n“It is only going to get tougher, but I like the way I played.”<\/span><\/p>\nDjokovic ‘loving’ still being the man to beat<\/h3>\n
While Djokovic knows exactly what it takes to reach the semi-finals of a major, Rublev had never experienced the feeling of winning a Grand Slam quarter-final.<\/span><\/p>\nRublev had lost all seven of his previous major quarter-finals – including a defeat by Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open where he only won seven games.<\/span><\/p>\nA light-hearted comment he made before the meeting in Melbourne, saying he wished Djokovic had been in the other side of the draw, was afterwards construed as being indicative of the lack of belief he showed on court.<\/span><\/p>\nThis time, Rublev started full of confidence. However, the 25-year-old could not sustain it as his opponent showed how he relishes putting younger players in their place.<\/span><\/p>\nAsked about needing to respond to being the man to beat, Djokovic said: “I love it. It’s true. Any tennis players wants to be in the position where everyone wants to beat you.”<\/span><\/p>\nThe pair traded big blows from the baseline and, after saving three break points to hold for 3-3, Rublev pinched Djokovic’s serve for 5-4 before serving out the opener.<\/span><\/p>\nIt was the first time that Djokovic had trailed in a match at this year’s Championships.<\/span><\/p>\nLike we have seen so often over the years, he responded by finding an even better level.<\/span><\/p>\nServing more accurately and upping his return percentage helped the Serb win more of the shorter rallies, allowing him to break for 2-0 and again for 4-0 as he quickly took the set away from Rublev.<\/span><\/p>\nRublev regained his level in the third set, yet still fell a break down at 3-2. But he continued to press and applied severe pressure when Djokovic tried to serve out the set.<\/span><\/p>\nA monumental game saw Djokovic save three break points and, after reacting to the crowd getting behind Rublev by demanding more noise when he saved them, the Serb still found a way to take his fifth set point.<\/span><\/p>\nRublev somehow had to find another level. Djokovic refused to let him. <\/span><\/p>\nAnother early break put Djokovic in command and he sealed his place in a 12th Wimbledon semi-final by taking Rublev’s serve again.<\/span><\/p>\n