TENNIS: Fery seeks birthday date with destiny as Djokovic eyes more history

LONDON — Novak Djokovic will continue his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title when he faces defending champion Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon men's semifinals on Friday.

The highly anticipated showdown, however, shares the spotlight with British wildcard Arthur Fery, whose remarkable run has made him one of the biggest stories of this year's Championships. Fery will take on French Open champion Alexander Zverev for a place in Sunday's final.

Ranked No. 114 in the world before Wimbledon, Fery has stunned the tennis world with five consecutive victories, including a dominant quarterfinal win over Italy's Flavio Cobolli, in which he claimed the third set 6-0.

The 23-year-old, who grew up near the All England Club, is only the second men's wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semifinals after Goran Ivanisevic, who won the title as a wildcard in 2001.

Former Australian player and BBC commentator Todd Woodbridge praised Fery's remarkable form, saying the Briton is playing extraordinary tennis.

Despite the fairytale run, Fery faces a tough challenge against Zverev, who captured his first Grand Slam title at this year's French Open. The German has dropped only two sets throughout the tournament and is aiming to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles after never previously advancing beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Zverev said he has learned to keep tennis in perspective despite the high stakes, noting that life continues regardless of the outcome of any match.

Djokovic, meanwhile, remains focused on making history. The seven-time Wimbledon champion reached the semifinals after winning the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Serbian will be playing in a record-extending 55th Grand Slam semifinal and his 15th at Wimbledon as he continues his quest for another major title.

Djokovic acknowledged that opportunities to add to his legacy are becoming more limited but said he remains determined to compete with and defeat the world's best players on the biggest stage.

Standing in his way is world No. 1 Sinner, who has looked comfortable throughout the tournament after surviving an early scare in the opening round. Although the Italian has yet to face a seeded opponent, he will now meet one of the greatest players in tennis history.

Sinner defeated Djokovic in last year's Wimbledon semifinal, while Djokovic earned revenge at this year's Australian Open, setting the stage for another compelling chapter in their growing rivalry.

Friday's Wimbledon men's semifinals feature Arthur Fery against Alexander Zverev, followed by top seed Jannik Sinner facing seventh seed Novak Djokovic on Centre Court. The winners will advance to Sunday's championship match. -Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Alison Williams/Reuters