Wimbledon news: Novak Djokovic speaks after more boos as BBC pundit calls out colleague

Thanks for following Express Sport's coverage of Friday's semi-final matches.

We'll be back tomorrow with a brand-new blog taking you through the weekend's action, starting with the ladies' singles final.

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Novak Djokovic became the final player to book their place in the singles Wimbledon final.

His men's singles showdown with Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday will follow the ladies' clash, wil takes place at 2pm tomorrow.

There will be a new name on the ladies' singles crown. Barbora Krejcikova faces Jasmine Paolini.

That match is scheduled to begin at 2pm on Centre Court.

Djokovic and Alcaraz will then follow on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz was heckled by Wimbledon spectators after bringing up this weekend's hotly-anticipated Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.

"I know how I'm going to feel before the final, I've been there before," Alcaraz told the BBC's Annabel Croft. The crowd then erupted into a chorus of jeers when the 21-year-old continued: "It's going to be a really good day for Spanish people as well because of the Euros final!"

Backtracking, he added: "I didn't say Spain are going to win! I'm just saying it's going to be a really fun day! It's going to be a really difficult match."

READ MORE HERE

Novak Djokovic appeared to extend an olive branch to booing Wimbledon fans on centre court.

The seven-time champion, who will play Carlos Alcaraz in the final, called Centre Court the best tennis venue in the world and revealed that he would make model Wimbledon trophies.

"Well I've said it many times, Wimbledon has always been a childhood dream for me - to play it, to win it. I've said the story many times but I think it's worth repeating it,” Djokovic said in a much more heartwarming on-court interview than Monday’s.

“I was a seven-year-old boy in Serbia watching the bombs fly over my head and dreaming of being on the most important court in the world, which is here - Centre Court at Wimbledon.

“[I was] Constructing a Wimbledon trophy out of any material I had in the room and watching myself in the mirror and telling myself I'd be a Wimbledon champion one day.

“The visualisation part was very, very strong. Obviously that wasn't enough to make it. I had tremendous support from my family members. My wife has been with me for many, many years and now my children.

“It has been an incredible journey so I try not to take it for granted. Every single time I find myself on this unique court I really try to enjoy it.”

Novak Djokovic was booed by a small portion of the Wimbledon crowd after he sealed his victory over Lorenzo Musetti.

Boos were heard as Djokovic performed his violin celebration.

However, they soon subsided.

It wasn't made as comfortable by Lorenzo Musetti as the scoreline might suggest but Novak Djokovic is into his 37th Grand Slam final.

He will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's showdown.

Novak Djokovic leads 5-4 and will hope to serve this through for the match.

A rematch of last year's final against Carlos Alcaraz awaits if he does...

Novak Djokovic has taken the second set after a thrilling tiebreak.

There was one superb shot by Lorenzo Musetti midway through that set, prompting laughter from Nick Kyrgios.

But it was Djokovic who breezed through the tiebreak.

Nick Kyrgios joked that John McEnroe has been ignoring his texts at Wimbledon.

Asked if he plans to continue playing or whether he feels more comfortable doing commentary, Kyrgios said: “I want to do both moving forward. I love being here and watching it and analysing it.

But I do miss being out there. You know the rush it brings and I want to give the fans something to remember - whether it’s good or bad.”

Asked about his fitness, the Aussie added: I’m good. I had a two-hour practice this morning. I’ve been hitting with Novak every other day. It’s good and everything is going well.

“I’ve been trying to get Jonny Mac to get out there but he won’t even reply to my messages!”

McEnroe quipped: “I don’t believe that for a second! You ready at four tomorrow?”

Kyrgios responded: “Yeah, that’s possible.”

Daniil Medvedev appeared to repeatedly shout "F*** you" at umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore.

The official had adjudged the ball to have bounced twice before Medvedev returned it during the first set of his match against Carlos Alcaraz.

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Novak Djokovic has just taken the first set.

He leads Lorenzo Musetti 6-4.

The second Wimbledon semi-final is now underway.

No breaks so far and the first set is currently level at 2-2.

And Carlos Alcaraz wins it!

The Spaniard is the first man through to the Wimbledon final.

He defeats Daniil Medvedev in four sets, 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4.

Daniil Medvedev received a default earlier in the match.

BBC pundit Tim Henman reacted by saying: "It’s probably more around verbal abuse.

“If you use a swear word you’re going to get a code violation and a warning and a fine, but if you verbally abuse the umpire, that’s when there’s a question mark.

“It could be a default. Just from where we’re sitting to see the umpire get down off the umpire’s chair, to see the umpire and the supervisor to go on the court, that doesn’t happen unless something has gone on."

Carlos Alcaraz is ahead on sets for the first time in the match.

The Spaniard now leads 2-1.

Carlos Alcaraz is now serving for the set.

He broke Daniil Medvedev at 4-2 and now has the chance to take the third set.

Daniil Medvedev received a code violation and a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct during his semi-final with Carlos Alcaraz.

The Russian star appeared to be peeved at the chair umpire calling a "not up" against him, shouting back at the official.

The umpire then got up out of their chair, down onto the court for a discussion with the tournament supervisor and referee, before handing a violation and warning to Medvedev.

BBC host Clare Balding revealed that she was hit in the head by a tennis ball while previewing Carlos Alcaraz's semi-final with Daniil Medvedev.

Balding had been courtside when explaining which commentators would soon be in position for the Beeb audience, when she was caught by a stray ball.

"This promises to be an intriguing match, the first of our two men’s semi-finals Daniil Medvedev against Carlos Alcaraz…" she started.

"Todd Woodbridge is already in the commentary box, I have just got hit on the head with a tennis ball," as Balding laughed off the incident.

The first of our two men's Wimbledon semi-finals is now underway, a repeat of last year's semi, as Daniil Medvedev takes on Carlos Alcaraz.

Medvedev actually kept the defending champion waiting outside the locker room as he took a bathroom break before walking out, but they are ready to lock horns now.

To follow updates from every point, you can check out Express Sport's live blog of the match HERE.

Tim Henman is the latest tennis figure to have been bowled over by Carlos Alcaraz, heading into the Spaniard's semi-final with Daniil Medvedev.

Speaking over footage of Alcaraz taking pictures with the ground staff at Wimbledon after his practice session, Henman was impressed with his attitude on and off the court in addition to his ability.

"We have the most exciting player gracing Centre Court - Carlos Alcaraz," Henman declared. "I love seeing the shots of him wondering around Wimbledon, he looks so relaxed - he always has a smile on his face.

"I am so excited to see what Alcaraz can offer to day as he has so many strings to his bow."

Coco Gauff's Wimbledon misery has been relieved after she won the ESPY award for Best Tennis Player.

She crashed out of SW19 in the fourth round to compatriot Emma Navarro, but was still deemed the most worthy recipient after her US Open victory last year.

ABC and ESPN's annual awards recognize excellence in team and individual sports performance, hosted by Serena Williams, as Gauff was recognised since the first time men and women were put into the same category.

Italian star Lorenzo Musetti believes that despite winning just one of his six prior matches with Novak Djokovic, he has a chance to reach the Wimbledon final.

After downing Taylor Fritz in five sets, Musetti admitted that he has learned from his previous encounters with Djokovic and hopes to use that knowledge en route to victory.

"I think I can have a chance with Nole the next round," Musetti said. "Of course, I have played him many times in different stages.

"Even big ones like of course two times at the French Open. I beat him one time in Monte-Carlo. Then I lost all the others.

"I have to say with Nole, after the match I always finished with a lesson. Of course, the last match was really an intense match from both players and really stressful match.

"You walk on court with a different mentality. As I said before, I think if I play in a certain way, I could have my shot in the next round."

John McEnroe has warned Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev that Carlos Alcaraz has a real chance of sealing back-to-back Wimbledon titles.

The American pundit feels that Alcaraz has improved on last year and the reigning SW19 and French Open champion can win again on Sunday.

“He’s got better touch, arguably, than anyone else in the game and even Novak Djokovic is thinking, ‘OK I need to bring my A game, A-plus game’, he said on the BBC.

“That [last year’s final] was one of the greatest matches I have ever seen, the Wimbledon final last year, unbelievable match. Novak was in position to win but somehow Alcaraz was able to rise to the occasion and beat the greatest of all time.”

Emma Raducanu has been tipped to stay with coach Nick Cavaday, who she worked with at Wimbledon, and end the continuous turnover of her staff.

Raducanu returned to her youth coach Cavaday and he helped deliver an impressive run to the fourth round, with Jo Durie claiming that their partnership will continue.

“It is a trust thing," Curie told Grosvenor Sport. "She knew Nick from her early days. You have got to have trust in the people around you as you’re making plans and dreams together.

“That is the most important thing in my mind. She is working well with him and it is showing.

“Emma likes to take knowledge and move on. That is the way she did it. Is it right or wrong? It is not something I would personally have done. I liked a long-term plan.

“Maybe now she will be with Nick a bit longer as she works on her plan and the way she sees the future. It does look like she is more settled.

“Sometimes, too many siren voices can cause muddle. It’s not as if her game is complicated. She serves well, she returns well. Should it be that complicated? I don’t think so.”

Romanian No. 1 Sorana Cirstea has confirmed that she will be taking an indefinite time away from tennis after her Wimbledon defeat to Sonay Kartal.

Cirstea lost to the British qualifier in the first round of the competition, but revealed she has been dealing with a "severe" case of plantar fasciitis.

Having played through the pain barrier at SW19, Cirstea will now take some time away from the sport to rehab properly.

"We have done everything possible in order for me to play and not miss important tournaments," she explained on Instagram. "But I got to the point where the pain is unbearable, is very hard to train and the only solution left is longer time off."

In what could be one of the matches of the tournament, Daniil Medvedev takes on Carlos Alcaraz today with some words of wisdom from his coach.

The Russian star has been informed by Gilles Cervara that if he can make his opponent "emotional" then he will have a far better chance of reaching the final.

“Alcaraz is an incredible player, he has a quality of shot that hurts you," the coach explained. "We have to be able to contain it, find strategies to stop him. What's troubling is the speed of his shot.

“From the baseline, he is able to press the button and send a shot that puts you ten metres back even though you had started the rally quite well.

“It's even and suddenly he sends you a shot… You have to succeed through play or something else to bring Alcaraz into a zone where he can doubt. When he doubts, he can get emotional and start making mistakes.”

Centre Court - 1.30pm

(5) Daniil Medvedev vs (3) Carlos Alcaraz

(25) Lorenzo Musetti v (2) Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic opened up on how his daughter Tara snubbed watching his match against Alexei Popyrin to read a book about unicorns instead.

The six-year-old was in attendance for the match on Centre Court, but could be seen reading rather than taking in the action.

“I love unicorns, of course! I was very happy when I saw that. And sad at the same time because my tennis doesn’t make her excited so much, so she needs to grab a book to entertain herself," Djokovic told Tennis Channel.

"But no, it’s incredible to have them with me and to see them grow. And to get them to be part of this journey and have them at the age where they understand what’s going on."

Barbora Krejcikova reached her first Wimbledon final yesterday by defeating 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, but in her downtime responded to fans on social media who had questions for the star.

During rain delays, Krejcikova did a Q&A only for one supporter to ask her what rules she would like to change in tennis.

And the Czech star pushed for alterations to the shot clock and grunting.

"More time for serve than 25 seconds," she replied. "And tbh I am not a fan of grunting, especially when it’s inconsistent, meaning when your opponent start to grunt or grunts louder during key points, it can be disturbing. Idk if it makes sense."

Hello and welcome to Express Sport's live coverage of Wimbledon, where we will be bringing you all the latest scores, news and updates from today's two semi-finals.