July 8, 2026 — 5:49amLondon: Titleholder Jannik Sinner continues to put the ghosts of his failed Roland-Garros behind, advancing to the Wimbledon semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Jan-Lennard Struff.Scheduled in the midst of the London heat, Sinner had to bide his time against the big-serving German, but the result never seemed in any doubt as the world No.1 secured a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory in a relatively slick two-and-a-half hours.Jannik Sinner’s Wimbledon title defence has reached the semi-finals.Getty ImagesThe 24-year-old dropped serve just once – and only after he was already up a break in the second set – and played a clean match with 32 winners, including 16 aces, as he booked his third career semi-final at the All England club.“I felt like I was serving quite intelligently today, even though I was up a break. In the second set, I had a drop of concentration again [but] I tried to stay there mentally in every service game,” Sinner said.“[I was also pleased with] how I handled important moments in that match because if you lose second sets, anything can happen, especially with big servers – you have less control. That’s, for sure, something I can be proud of.“I felt like today was, again, a small step better because it was a very different opponent I faced until now.”Sinner awaits the winner between seven-time champion Novak Djokovic and third-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who are locked in battle on centre court.The other men’s winner was German second seed Alexander Zverev, who survived some tense moments – including dropping the third set – in the resumption of his match from Monday to beat tough Czech Jiri Lehecka, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).Wimbledon’s strict 11pm curfew meant they had to stop at three-all in the third set, and Lehecka took advantage to reel off the first three games on Tuesday to force a fourth set.There was little between them in the fourth set, and it could have been a different result had Zverev not ground out marathon holds in the first and seventh games. Zverev raced to a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak and never trailed, but surprisingly double-faulted to leave the door ajar at six-all.Alexander Zverev is into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.Getty ImagesHowever, it was an anticlimactic finish.On Zverev’s second match point, Lehecka dumped a straightforward backhand into the net to seal his fate and the German’s maiden Wimbledon quarter-final, where he will renew acquaintances with American Taylor Fritz.“It’s nice to complete the set of quarter-finals for [the four] majors, but, of course, I want to go further,” Zverev said. “I want to hopefully, play three more matches here. I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals, but the tournament doesn’t stop here.”Dual grand slam champion Coco Gauff and 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova locked in the first women’s semi-final spots.Seventh seed Gauff is now the highest-ranked player left in the draw after rallying from a set down to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula, the No.4 seed, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This was already a career-best Wimbledon for Gauff, who had not won a grass-court match for two years until this tournament.“It feels really special considering the results I’ve had of late, and especially on this surface,” Gauff said.“I think I’m able to relax a bit because I just feel, regardless of how the rest of this tournament goes, [that] I’ve found, like, a bit of a breakthrough on grass. I’m proud of myself. Obviously, I’m not satisfied – I want to go all the way – [but] also, at the same time, I’m just looking at the match in front of me.”Muchova has long been regarded as one of the most talented players on the tour, but injuries have contributed to her not realising her potential until now. That could be about to change after she ended Naomi Osaka’s breakthrough Wimbledon in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.Cruz Hewitt is into the third round of the boys’ singles.Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Cruz Hewitt is into the third round of the boys’ singles, eliminating 14th-seeded Frenchman Mathys Domenc, 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, with Roger Federer’s twin daughters, Myla and Charlene, cheering him on from courtside.Hewitt’s power game impressed again, including winning 86 per cent of first-serve points and striking 13 winners. Domenc took a medical timeout for a left ankle issue after the fifth game of the second set, and did not win another game thereafter.The 17-year-old Australian next faces second-seeded German Jamie Mackenzie, who grew up in New Zealand, for a quarter-final spot.Australia’s Storm Hunter and Marc Polmans will contest the mixed doubles final after defeating Fanny Stollar and Mate Pavic, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. They will face second seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Marcelo Arevalo for the title.More to comeMarc McGowan travelled to London with Tennis Australia’s support.News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.More:WimbledonJannik SinnerNovak DjokovicNaomi OsakaFrom our partners