Wimbledon 2025 quarter-finals: Cobolli v Djokovic, Sinner breezes past Shelton - live

4m ago 14.09 EDT But back to the matter at hand. Cobolli gives Djokovic a glimmer at 15-30 but no more. Djokovic zips through to love. It’s 2-2. Share

6m ago 14.06 EDT Djokovic holds to 30, after a fun game of cat and mouse on the final point, as my mind wanders to the thought of Djokovic v Sinner in the semi-finals. Sinner has beaten Djokovic in their past two grand slam meetings, at this year’s French Open and last year’s Australian Open, but Djokovic has got the better of Sinner twice at Wimbledon before, in 2022 and 2023. But that was before the Italian turned into a winning machine and numero uno. With Sinner near the peak of his powers (as long as his elbow holds up) and Djokovic seeing this tournament as his greatest chance to get that elusive slam #25, it could be an absolute cracker. Share

14m ago 13.58 EDT Cobolli is the first to serve in the fourth set, and this is surely a game that he can’t afford to lose, as Fabio Fognini, his fellow Italian who announced his retirement from tennis today, looks on from the box. Only 10 days ago Fognini was on the court, taking Alcaraz all the way. How quickly life can change. Fognini is applauding his protege when Cobolli survives from deuce; Djokovic is ramming his racket into his foot. He wanted the break. Share Updated at 14.11 EDT

18m ago 13.55 EDT And here are the highlights: Share

20m ago 13.52 EDT Djokovic wins the third set 7-5 15-0, 30-0, as Djokovic drags Cobolli around the court on a piece of string, before reeling him in with a drop shot that the Italian can’t reach. 40-0. Djokovic opts to serve-volley on set point but plants his volley into the net! But an ace settles matters. Djokovic leads 6-7, 6-2, 7-5. This is the first time Cobolli’s been behind in sets this fortnight. And it’s a long. way. back. from here against the seven-times champ. View image in fullscreen Novak Djokovic takes the third set 7-5. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Share Updated at 13.59 EDT

25m ago 13.48 EDT Djokovic, never one to be outdone, replies with a love hold of his own. It’s 5-5. Cobolli dealt so well with the clutch moments in the first set, but perhaps he’s mentally tiring here in his first grand slam quarter-final (it’s Djokovic’s 63rd!!!), because it’s soon 15-40, two break points, as Cobolli goes for a low-percentage shot down the line and misses. Cobolli then flings a forehand well wide and Djokovic, the coolest man in the stadium, strides back to his chair to grab an ice towel. He’ll shortly serve for the third set. Share

31m ago 13.41 EDT Cobolli nudges ahead to 5-4. Though nudge perhaps isn’t the right word given he’s just held to love. The 23-year-old has got a spring in his step as he runs back to his chair at the changeover; the 38-year-old Djokovic is trudging to his and has a face of thunder, even though there’s still a splash of evening sun on Centre Court. Djokovic, having been a break up in this third set, must hold serve to stay in it. Share

34m ago 13.38 EDT “Novak GOAT talk is recency bias, how can all sports in the world have a goat within the last 20 years, hmmmm,” ponders Jeff Peters. I agree it can be easier to acclaim what’s most recent in our memories, but I think the only fair way to settle the debate is with numbers. Everything else seems too subjective. So personally I’d give Novak his GOATness, with his 24 (maybe 25 pending) slams … but that doesn’t mean he’s the greatest in my eyes in terms of the emotions stirred, the beauty of his play etc. For me that would be Federer. But you could call that recency bias too. Meanwhile, from 3-2 Cobolli, it’s now 4-4, with Cobolli serving at 15-0. View image in fullscreen Is Novak the GOAT? or is this actual Goat the GOAT? Composite: Getty, Rex Features Share Updated at 13.43 EDT

48m ago 13.25 EDT Cobolli is seeing the tennis ball like a football now. Perhaps no surprise, given he’s also a fine footballer and was once in Roma’s academy. He rattles through his serve to love, pinging three winners past Djokovic in the process. Share Updated at 13.27 EDT

49m ago 13.24 EDT The longest rally of the match – 20 shots – and Cobolli emerges victorious! Centre Court rises to salute the Italian underdog. He’s 0-30 ahead. But Djokovic’s serve is stinging and Cobolli can’t respond. On the next point Djokovic rolls in a slow second serve but Cobolli is punished for being too passive. 30-all. 40-30. And another lung-busting rally, to rival the one earlier in the game, again ends in Cobolli’s favour! Even elastic (or plastic?) man at full stretch can reach breaking point. And Cobolli clobbers a return winner on break point to break back! It’s 2-2. Share Updated at 13.25 EDT

1h ago 13.14 EDT Djokovic asserts his authority with a hold to love. Cobolli, commendably, steadies himself to do the same. But it’s Djokovic who still has the break, leading 6-7, 6-2, 2-1. Share

1h ago 13.08 EDT Djokovic wins the second set 6-2 While all this was going on, Djokovic broke Cobolli again on his way to a 6-2 second set – which took not even half the time of that 68-minute opener. Cobolli walks off court – but when he returns he looks rather lost, immediately dropping serve to 15. Djokovic could be about to do to Cobolli what he did to De Minaur in the previous round: give his opponent a head start and then dominate from there. View image in fullscreen How apt. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Share Updated at 13.18 EDT

1h ago 13.04 EDT “The feelings are definitely different [to the great escape against Dimitrov],” says a smiling Sinner. “I’m very happy with this performance, playing against him is so difficult. We play each other more and more, we get to know each other a little bit better, and I’m looking forward to these kind of battles. My elbow has improved a lot from yesterday to today.” Share Updated at 13.11 EDT

1h ago 13.00 EDT So it’s a fourth consecutive grand slam semi-final for the US Open and Australian Open champion, and a second semi at Wimbledon. Sinner said after Dimitrov’s retirement in the fourth round that it didn’t feel like a win. This will. He’s made the most of his reprieve and that match now looks like a brief blip. And despite the heavy strapping to protect his elbow injury, he didn’t look too troubled physically. He’ll be ready for Djokovic or an all-Italian affair with Cobolli in the last four. Share Updated at 13.02 EDT

1h ago 12.56 EDT Sinner beats Shelton 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 Djokovic has broken Cobolli for 3-2 in the second. Not that I really saw any of it; I’m too busy watching Sinner v Shelton. The perils of live blogging concurrent quarter-finals. At least it’s the right decision on my part, because Shelton rams into the net and Sinner has a match point at 30-40. A huge serve from Shelton out wide … and a winning forehand to t’other side! What a way to save a match point. Shelton’s dad Bryan, who reached the Wimbledon fourth round 31 years ago, looks impressed. But here’s a second match point at Sinner’s advantage. Shelton’s girlfriend Trinity Rodman can’t bear to watch. Shelton saves it again, but here’s a third. He just can’t shake Sinner off. And Sinner completes victory when Shelton’s forehand goes well long! View image in fullscreen Jannick Sinner is just too strong for Ben Shelton. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Share Updated at 13.05 EDT

1h ago 12.49 EDT A final fling from Shelton – or is this the start of something? He’s got 0-30 on Sinner’s serve at 4-4. But Shelton fires a forehand long, Sinner jams him with a body serve, and here’s another error from Shelton’s racket. Sinner rounds off his mini revival with a backhand pass down the line. The world No 1 leads 7-6, 6-4, 5-4 and Shelton must hold serve to stay in this quarter-final. Share

1h ago 12.44 EDT Djokovic certainly isn’t playing like the GOAT right now, even though in my humble opinion he is, because GOATness can really only be measured on numbers; everything else feels too subjective. But Djokovic does regroup after letting that opening set slip through his fingers, holding serve at the start of the second for 1-1. View image in fullscreen Novak Djokovic stretches out between the games. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Share Updated at 13.24 EDT

2h ago 12.39 EDT Richard Hirst has an email for Daniel, even though he’s now departed. As I imagine Shelton will soon be, even though he’s refusing to wave the white flag in the third set, trailing 7-6, 6-4, 3-3 against Sinner. “Are you being deliberately provocative with your repeated GOAT references to Djokovic? Well, you have succeeded, I am provoked. I’d reckon on Rod Laver being his match with today’s equipment and fitness regimes. And counting the number of victories in the slams doesn’t do it, given the amateur/open hiatus. Just saying.” Share

2h ago 12.34 EDT Cobolli wins the first set 7-6 (6) Djokovic holds. Cobolli holds. They’re into a tie-break. Though Hugh Grant looks as if he’s falling asleep in the Royal Box. Not sure about Queen Camilla, she’s not in the camera shot, though this is Djokovic’s time to hold court. The seven-times champion is surely going to step it up now against the Italian upstart? Cobolli has other ideas, charging to 5-2 and then 6-5, set point. Djokovic reigns supreme with a darting backhand winner down the line, but a fizzing forehand pass from Cobolli and it’s a second set point! Cobolli clobbers down a serve and Djokovic can’t get it back! View image in fullscreen Flavio Cobolli wins the opening against Novak. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Share Updated at 12.36 EDT

2h ago 12.25 EDT Shelton must absolutely hate the sight of Sinner, who’s well on course for a sixth win on the spin against the 10th seed. Sinner looked so vulnerable against Dimitrov in the previous round before his unexpected reprieve, but Dimitrov had more variety/spin to trouble Sinner; Shelton is trying to fight power with power here and it’s not working. In the battle of the composed Italian’s metronomic consistency v the charismatic American’s unpredictability, there looks to be only one winner. View image in fullscreen Ben Shelton eyes the ball as he returns to Jannik Sinner. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images Share Updated at 12.27 EDT

2h ago 12.18 EDT Sinner wins the second set 6-4 Sinner holds to love for 5-4, and once again is piling the pressure on Shelton’s serve at 30-40. Djokovic also has a set point at 30-40, as he attempts to make amends for dropping serve in the last game. While Sinner seals the set as Shelton’s backhand misfires – it’s the 14th consecutive set he’s won against the American – Djokovic can’t get the job done. Cobolli holds from deuce and they’re level at 5-5. Share

2h ago 12.11 EDT Everywhere I look there are break points. There’s one for Sinner at 4-3, 30-40, but Shelton absolutely smokes a 93mph forehand to save it. And the American holds from there. Meanwhile Djokovic, serving for the first set after breaking Cobolli in the previous game, veers away from the script as he falls 0-40 down, with Cobolli crunching a couple of winners to get there. Djokovic rams a forehand wide and he’s broken to love! They’re back on serve with Djokovic leading 5-4. Share

2h ago 12.05 EDT Back on Centre, Cobolli again finds himself down 15-30, but Djokovic lands his return just beyond the baseline. An ace follows, but a backhand down the line goes into the net, taking us to deuce, then a backhand shovelled wide means break point Djokovic. Cobolli, though, handles it well, only to then face advantage a second time, doing brilliantly to stay in the rally then, when the chance arises to whip a forehand down the line – really, he’s forced into it by Djokovic’s excellence – he curls just wide, and at 5-3, the greatest of all timewill now serve for the first set. That’s how quickly it can be taken from you against the best; here’s Katy Murrells to let you now how things proceed from here. Share

2h ago 11.59 EDT I’m not sure what Shelton can do to discomfit Sinner, but he might want to try and shorten the points – against a hitter as consistent and powerful, it makes no sense to thrash away, especially when you consider his ability to create angles. He’s playing solidly enough, just not really displaying the flair that took him to this point. Of course, that partly reflects the level of his opponent, but seeing how this is going, he’s got to forcer the issue. Sinner leads 7-6 3-3. Share

2h ago 11.55 EDT Superb work from Cobolli, who wins three points in a row from 0-30. But he then nets a forehand down the line, then another, and the first break point of the match goes to Djokovic, whose return – of a really good serve under pressure – goes wide. From there, the youngster closes out, and he’ll feel much better now, having survived his first proper scare. It’s 3-3 in the first, as it is in the second on No 1, Sinner up on Shelton by a set. View image in fullscreen Flavio Cobolli whips a forehand return. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP Share Updated at 11.57 EDT

2h ago 11.49 EDT Shelton’s worked hard on his background, but it’s no surprise when we’re shown diagram telling us that Sinner is targeting it. We’re still on serve in set two, but another love hold is further evidence that the world no 1 is in control. Share

Click here to read article