LONDON — Novak Djokovic began expressing a heartfelt thought about returning to the semifinals at the All England Club — “It means the world to me,” he was saying, “that I’m still able, at 38, to play (in the) final stages of Wimbledon” — when the Centre Court crowd interrupted with yelling and applause.

Sinner, of Italy, will be making his second appearance in the Wimbledon semifinals where he will face seven-time winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who beat unseeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Djokovic advanced to a record 14th Wimbledon semifinal.

Djokovic, who is looking for a record-equaling eighth Wimbledon title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, battled and then surged past the Italian No. 22 seed Cobolli 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to set up Friday’s date with Sinner.