Wimbledon quarter-finals: Djokovic trails against Sinner, Maria beats Niemeier – live!

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Norrie and Goffin are away; Norrie is in his first major quarter, while Goffin has never made a semi.

Three set points down, Sinner performs an unbelievable get, charging to the net to flick a drop cross-court for a clean and incredible winner. But Djokovic serves out and that’s the third set! Sinner leads 7-5 6-2 3-6, but Djokovic lost just four points on serve there, and made just three unforced errors.

Excellent from Sinner, hammering down a serve to make Djokovic serve out for the set at 5-3.

…but Sinner saves both, the second by hanging on a long rally – not something you often see against Djokovic.

Goffin and Norrie are knocking up on No1 while, on Centre, Djokovic has two set points at 5-2 15-40…

Cameron Norrie walks onto the court ahead of his quarter final match against Belgium’s David Goffin Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Updated at 10.51 EDT

But let’s go back to Tatjana Maria for a moment, because the enormity of her achievement requires quite some digesting. She’s been playing tennis for 17 years, had reached round three of a slam once, in 2015, while taking two breaks to have kids, the second not much more than a year ago … and now she’s in the last four at Wimbledon. In its way, it’s every bit as wondrously inspirational as Emma Raducanu winning a major at 18.

Updated at 10.45 EDT

Djokovic has found himself and Sinner’s level has dropped slightly; it’s now 4-2 in set three, and the holds are coming more easily.

Back on Centre, Djokovic has broken Sinner for 3-1 in set four, noising up the crowd as he holds again for 4-1. This is intensifying.

A first Grand Slam semi at 34! Imagine that!

Next on No1: David Goffin v Cameron Norrie [9]

“I have goosebumps everywhere,” says Maria, her face illuminated by smiles. She doesn’t know what to say but tries to enjoy every moment, then Rishi Persad asks her about her two young daughters – she gave birth just a year ago – but somehow she avoids convulsing into tears, laughing instead, putting hands over face. My eyeballs are sweating for her, all the more so when she talks about her friendship with Ons, her potential semi opponent, talking about how much she loves her kids, waves to the crowd, and takes her leave. That was so uplifting I might need to weight my ankles.

Tatjana Maria beats Jule Niemeier 4-6 6-2 7-5!

What a match that was, and what a moment for Tatjana Maria! Decades of slog, of struggle, all for this, and doesn’t she enjoy it! She looked likely to lose after set one, she looked certain to lose when 4-2 down in set three, but here she is in the last four – where she’ll meet Jabeur or Bouzkova. I cannot wait to see that, but I also can’t wait to hear her interview, and here it is!

Relief: Tatjana Maria celebrates winning her quarter final match against Jule Niemeier Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Updated at 10.32 EDT

Sinner holds for 1-1 in set three, while on No1, Niemeier finds herself under a nasty overhead … that she hammers into the corner for 15-all. Maria, though, wins the next point which takes her two from victory, and when Niemeier guides a slice approach long, she has two match points!

Back on No1, it’s 5-5, and charging to the net at 15-30, Niemeier looks ready to raise a break point only to flip her pick-up long. We wind up at deuce, then Maria nets a backhand slice and is this the match right here? She drops her racket in frustrastion, then prepares to play the biggest point of her life … and a nervous backhand from Niemeier, also playing the biggest point of her life, is enough. Then, the point of the match, the pair exchanging lobs before, with Maria at the net and Niemeier at the back, the latter can’t find the pass, playing safe if we’re being real, then a deft volley has her hurtling in, diving, chucking her racket … and unable to get the ball back. Maria quickly closes out, and now leads 6-5 in the third. What a contest this is!

Djokovic has rebounded from 0-2 down six times in his Wimbledon career and we’ve seen him turn matches around so many times – whereas we’ve never seen sinner win one of this magnitude – but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look as befuddled as this against any player not in the big four. He holds in the first game of set three; every journey starts with a small step.

Djokovic, of course, takes a break. He’s got a lot to think about in the little room, and not a lot of time in which to do it.

Djokovic makes 0-30, but Sinner’s first serve is a boss and it helps him make 40-30; another, out wide to the backhand, can’t be returned, and JANNIK SINNER LEADS NOVAK DJOKOVIC 7-5 6-2! The crowd are right behind him, partly because Djokovic is not their favourite, but also, you hope, because they know they’re seeing a seizing of power, like when Federer beat Sampras in 2001, that we could be talking about decades from now!

Jannik Sinner two sets up Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA

Updated at 10.23 EDT

Maria rushes through a hold to 15 and now leads 5-4; Niemeier will have a sit-down then serve to stay in the championships. Good luck, old mate.

Back on No1, meanwhile, Maria has broken Niemeier back! This is an absolute jazzer of a contest, not as high a standard as we might expect at this stage but with both players leaving their soul out there. It’s 4-4 in the decider and I’ve still not a clue who’s going to win.

A wild forehand from Djokovic gives Sinner 15-40; what on earth are we seeing here?! The inspiring beauty of disgusting youthfulness, yes, but also the numbing onset of middle age? I can’t remember the last time I saw Djokovic play as carelessly as this, but might this be a turning point? At 30-40, Sinner looks in control of the next rally, only for a net-cord to send the ball dribbling over for a winner, greeted with the usual heartfelt apology. But you know what? IT DOESN’T MATTER! Because another Djokovic error means that when Sinner plants a forehand onto the baseline that’s unreturned but called out, a challenge confirms the double-break that means Jannik Sinner, aged 20 and three-quarters, leads Novak Djokovic 7-5 5-2! This is very, very special.

A tame Sinner drop, patted into the net, gives Djokovic 0-15 at 2-3, while a fine pick-up from Maria sees Niemeier net a volley for deuce. At 30-all, though, Djokovic botches yet another drop – he’s trying to end rallies earlier than he might, perhaps because Sinner’s forehand is so hot – and seconds later it’s 7-5 4-2, while Niemeier also holds for 4-2 and is now two games away from the semis!

Meantime, has Niemeier struck a crucial blow? She gets to 30-40, Maria goes long, and there’s the break, the sixth of the match. Maria 4-6 6-2 2-3 Niemeier

Sinner consolidates, and from 1-4 has lost just two games, now leading 7-5 3-1! He’s playing even better than he did against Alcaraz, the depth and whip of his forehand dictating the points and in the process denying the changes of pace and direction that Djokovic usually deploys to such great effect. This is so affirming to watch.

At 1-2 in the decider, Niemeier finds a second ace of the match for 40-0, and might’ve rediscovered her mojo, now coming into the net and with confidence. She holds to 15 to make 2-2, and I’ve not a scooby how this is going to end.

OH I SAY! Sinner only needs one of two break points, unleashing yet another scorching forehand for 2-1 in set two! He’s dominating now, and Djokovic is in trouble!

We start with a hold apiece in each of our new sets, Niemeier finding her first ace to seal her deal. On Sinner, incidentally, he’s from the bit of Italy that’s almost Austria, and I’m told he fits the stereotype Italians have of people from that area: calm, composed and dispassionate. Those are qualities that can help a lot with elite sport in terms of handling pressure, but a bit of fire is also helpful and we’re seeing a more attitudinous body language from him today – and as I write that, he makes 15-40 on the Djokovic serve!

“Niemeier up to eleven doubles now,” tweets @Mysteron_Voice. “What’s happened to the serve-bot that demolished Heather Watson?”

Pressure has happened. It’s a lot.

Or rather, we got ourselves two ball-games! Maria breaks Niemeier for the third time in set two to force a decider! She started as though it was she feeling the pressure of her first quarter, but as she settled, her opponent became more tentative! Maria 4-6 6-2 Niemeier

Tatjana Maria squares the match and takes it into a third set decider Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated at 09.58 EDT

…and this time, that forehand lets him down, Djokovic sticking him in the corner and inciting the kind of slip we saw from him in his first-round match against Wawrinka. But a fine drop-shot, which holds up in the wind, arranges a second set point, and this time a big serve seals the seal! Who on earth saw that at 0-2? Mates, we got ourselves a ball-game! Djokovic 5-7 Sinner

Jannik Sinner takes the first set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated at 09.38 EDT

Eeesh, sport is hard. At 15-all, Sinner double faults, but that forehand cross-court is there for him again – it is such a shot, especially from the backhand corner, so flat and hard. Next, a big second serve raises set point, and here comes Sinner as the crowd go wild….

Hello! Careless behaviour from Djokovic gives Sinner 0-30, then another error makes it 15-40! AND JUST LOOK AT THAT! A pair of forehands screech and shriek towards Djokovic; he returns the first one, but the second one sets the air on fire and Sinner will now serve for set one! He is loving it out there, growing into grownarse adult before our eyes; it’s beautiful to see.

Novak Djokovic Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated at 09.33 EDT

Maria is playing with so much more confidence now, really enjoying the occasion. And when Niemeier slips, she’s in perfect position to guide a forehand winner down the line that gives her 4-6 5-2, and the decider we – and this match – deserves looks a banker.

Niemeier holds to love, while Djokovic amps up the pressure as Sinner tries to stay in the set at 4-5. At 30-all, he could easily wobble, but it’s nothing that can’t be solved by a pair of gargantuan first serves, and at 5-5, we’ve got ourselves a proper contest.

“The floodlights are integrated into the roof,” advises Gary Naylor, “so you can’t have one without the other. “It’s all very hi-tech and designed to avoid shadows on the court giving a strange (and uncomfortable) combination of ambient, snowy light and humid, greenhousey heat.”

Consecutive forehands, cross-court from the backhand corner, give Sinner 0-15, and though he can’t finish a point at 30-15, eventually the weight of his strokes tells and Djokovic blazes long, wasting a pair of splendid gets. Sinner wins the next rally too – he’s absolutely assaulting the ball out there –but Djokovic muscles a forehand down the line to earn deuce and quickly closes out for 5-4. Meantime, Maria breaks Niemeier again, and though she doubles on 40-30, she eventually gets it done and leads 4-1 in the second.

Sinner and Maria both follow gifted breaks with emphatic holds, and in just 10 minutes the tenor of both matches has changed.

“Regarding the player disquiet over late finishes,” emails Gregory Phillips, “most of the objections I’ve read seem to be how closing the roof changes the playing conditions, which is fair. Why couldn’t the AELTC turn on the floodlights and leave the roof open? (I am guessing the answer has something to do with the local council.)”

I think that’s it – it’s certainly why matches have to stop at a certain time. There is something special about sport at night, though – I’ve enjoyed the altered schedule.

And have a look! Niemeier also doubles a second time, Maria goes on the attack by upping the forehand venom, and a diving get at the net secures the break-back! Maria salutes the crowd and well she might! Maria 4-6 1-1 Niemeier

A seventh double gives Maria 0-30, right as one from Djokovic hands Sinner 0-15. In the context of both matches, these are chances, and a horrible drop from our Serbian friend makes 0-30. Naturally, he responds with an ace and Niemeier unfurls a forehand/smash combo, but another poor drop from Djokovic and a lovely backhand version from Maria gives us break points in both matches. Niemeier saves the one against her with an ace, but Djokovic blunders through a further double, and we’re back on serve on Centre! Djokovic 4-3 Sinner

Trailing 1-4 but advantage up, Sinner bangs down an ace and is in the match now. He’s not making an impression on the Djokovic serve, but it’s a long day so there’s time.

Maria is in trouble. On 15-30, she finds a high-kicking ace down the middle, but soon has to save a break point. On deuce, though, Niemeier’s forehand gives her control of the rally, and though she’s then foxed by a low bounce, Maria nets her attempted backhand pass down the line. Again, she rallies for deuce, then Niemeier nets on a third advantage … but finds a deft, close-range lob to give herself a fourth go. That was a lovely shot because there was so little room to get the ball up and down, and when she smites an inside-out backhand pass, Maria is again broken in the first game of a set. This could soon be over. Maria 4-6 0-1 Niemeier

Sinner is no the board now, holding for 1-3. But Djokovic looks in as much control as you’d expect.

Jannik Sinner returns Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP

Updated at 08.58 EDT

Maria is managing occasional big shots, but not often enough to tax Niemeier in a serious way. On 15-all, a body-serve fashions the opportunity for a superb backhand volley put-away, taken from below the height of the net, and shortly afterwards a serve out wide is blazed wide, which means the set. Maria has a lot of work to do, because her gameplan – taking pace off – isn’t working. Going on the offensive might not either, but it’s got to be worth a try. Maria 4-6 Niemeier

Jule Niemeier takes the first set. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Updated at 09.02 EDT

Maria holds, forcing Niemeier to serve for the set at 5-4, as does Djokovic, who leads Sinner 3-0.

Immediately, Sinner finds himself three break points down – he’s yet to trouble the scorer – and he saves the first two but can’t manage a third. On which point, Calvin Betton, our resident coach, notes that “Djokovic will put Sinner in positions where he doesn’t like being. He never gives an opponent rhythm – never gives them three of the same shot in a row. Sinner likes rhythm and there’s no way he can win the match other than hitting clean winners for three sets.”

Niemeier, meanwhile, holds for 5-3 but sends down her fifth double. So far, she’s got away with it, and she might through this match, but eventually her profligacy – she also goes long on an easy forehand put-away – will cost her if she doesn’t sort it. She leads Maria 5-3.

Looking at Sinner, it really is remarkable he can generate so much power given his chicken-style legs. But he gives it a serious whack – so far, his problems have come against players good enough to withstand that; before Alcaraz, he’d not beaten anyone in the top 10 in quite some time and he doesn’t (yet?) have the tools to vary his approach when Plan A isn’t working. Djokovic holds to love, while Maria narrowly avoids going down a double break, defending well to trail 3-4.

Djokovic and Sinner are out on Centre, and watching two matches simultaneously, rather than four, feels simultaneously tame and intense. Niemeier, meanwhile, holds again, through deuce again and leads Maria 4-2.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge ready for the main event on Centre Court. Photograph: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Updated at 08.38 EDT

Maria finds her own forehand, boshing a winner for 15-0 and holding to love. She’ll feel more settled now, and after wining the final point of the game she looks up at her box as if to tell them she’s good. It might be too late for this set, but the match is developing into a contest.

She’s a proper powerhouse, is Niemeier, and she’s using her booming forehand to target Maria’s suss backhand; Maria is slicing almost everything, trying to deny Niemeier the opportunity to deploy her power, and it’s not really working. A double at 40-30 does hand her deuce, but she doesn’t get a sniff in the next two points. Maria 1-3 Niemeier

Updated at 08.29 EDT

On 30-all, Maria – who’s not settled at all – slices a forehand long, but responds with a heavier serve down the T, and it’s too good for Niemeier. She can’t press home her first advantage, botching a lob under pressure when Niemeier charges to the net, then an ace is followed by a double. But she eventually closes out, securing her first game for 1-2.

A nervy service game from Niemeier that includes a double, but on 40-30 her footwork gets her forehand-side of the ball and means she can go line or cross; she picks the latter, dematerialising a winner that’ll have her feeling pretty good about life. She leads 2-0.

Germany’s Jule Niemeier in action Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Updated at 08.22 EDT

Immediately, Niemeier raises two break points, netting on the return to lose the first before Maria tamely dumps a squash-shot. Maria 0-1 Niemeier

And play!

The players are on court knocking up. We’ll be away shortly.

Niemeier, on the other hand, is at the start of her career and has power to burn. This is only her second Wimbledon, but she eliminated Anett Kontaveit, the number two seed, and being relatively unknown makes her tricky to gameplan for.

Getting us away we’ve Maria v Niemeier. Maria has ejected three seeds – Cirstea, Sakkari and Ostapenko – and is on the run of her life. Before Wimbledon, she’d never done better than round two of a major, but seeing her now, with her family – she’s a two-time mum – you can see she’s reached equilibrium, so even though she’s 34, it’s no surprise that she’s playing so well.

Kyrgios faces charge of assaulting ex-girlfriend

The 27-year-old Australian, who reached the quarter-finals on Monday, will appear in court in Canberra next month.

Updated at 08.14 EDT

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome Wimbledon 2022. Yes, the competition started last week and we’ve been enjoying our lives more ever since, but it’s today that we hit 88mph and see what Doc Emmet Brown called “some serious expletive”.

Previously, the second Tuesday meant women’s quarter-finals, but as of this year we’re getting two along with two men’s, then the same again tomorrow – a sensible adjustment that guarantees us two large helpings of lovely tennis.

And we waste no time at all in stuffing our faces with an absolutely jaw-convulsing dish of Novak Djokovic [1] v Jannik Sinner [10], who open proceedings on Centre. The former may be the top seed, but with Rafael Nadal halfway to a grand slam, he can’t sensibly claim to be the best player in the world … unless he can win here. And he’ll fancy himself to do just that, except Sinner is, as of Sunday, in the form of his life, taking Carlos Alcaraz apart with the might of his serving and returning. If he plays as well again, we’re looking at a potential classic.

And that’s not all! There’s no sport in the world less predictable and with more potential champions than women’s tennis, so picking which of Marie Bouzkova and Ons Jabeur [3], Tatjana Maria and Jule Niemeier will make the last four is an errand too foolish even for this blog – but all of them will know that this might just be the opportunity of their lives. On top of which, David Goffin v Cameron Norrie [9] will be a fascinating battle of spins, angles and intensity with all the potential to drag us the distance. Ooh yeah!

Play: 1pm BST on No1 Court, 1.30pm BST on Centre Court