LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)— Novak Djokovic reached a 12th Wimbledon semifinal and record-tying 46th at the Grand Slams on Tuesday as Elina Svitolina stunned world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, delivering an emotional boost for her war-torn Ukraine homeland.

Djokovic, chasing an eighth title at the All England Club and 24th career major, defeated Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and will face Italy's Jannik Sinner for a place in the final.

The Serb has now reached as many semifinals at the Slams as the retired Roger Federer.

The 36-year-old, playing in his 400th Grand Slam match, insisted he was enjoying being the man to beat.

"I love it. Any player wants to be in the position where all the other players want to beat you," he said after preserving his record of not losing on Center Court since 2013.

"The pressure never goes away every time I come on court."

"They want to get a scalp and win — but it ain't happening!"

After dropping the first set, a fired-up Djokovic only allowed Rublev six points in the first five games of the second set.

The champion then needed five set points to claim the third while saving three break points in the same game.

Rublev's spirit drained away and Djokovic claimed victory with his 42nd winner of the tie.

The Russian world No. 7 has now lost all eight quarter-finals he has played at the majors.

"I had these little chances but I didn't make them. He made them. That's why he's Novak, one of the greatest players in history," he said.

Svitolina, the world No. 76, who gave birth last October and only returned to the tour in April, stunned US Open and French Open champion Swiatek in her quarter-final 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

Svitolina, already a semifinalist in 2019, will take on Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic for a place in Saturday's championship match.