LONDON, July 11 (TNS): Three-time champion Novak Djokovic reached his eighth Wimbledon semi-final on Wednesday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in a stormy Centre Court clash. Djokovic, 31, will be playing in his 32nd Slam semi-final where he will face either world number one Rafael Nadal or fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro.
It will be Djokovic’s first semi-final at a major since the 2016 French Open when he completed the career Grand Slam. The 12-time major winner prevailed despite picking up two code violations and accusing umpire Carlos Ramos of “double standards”.
“I think the first warning was unnecessary,” said Djokovic, who was sanctioned in the second set for spearing his racquet into the court. “It didn’t harm the grass. Kei did the same in the fourth set but wasn’t warned. “The umpire said he didn’t see. I don’t think it’s fair but it is what it is.” Despite his anger, Djokovic still reeled off 10 of the last 12 games of the quarter-final.
