Novak Djokovic recorded his 800th career win as he beat France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Fever-Tree Championships.

Djokovic, 31, trailed Mannarino in the first set but the former world number one from Serbia went on to dominate.

The three-time Wimbledon champion will next face France’s Jeremy Chardy, who beat American Frances Tiafoe 6-4 6-4.

Top seed Marin Cilic of Croatia and Australian Nick Kyrgios will meet in the other semi-final on Saturday.

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Djokovic delight at career milestone

Djokovic is through to only his second semi-final of a troubled campaign as he seeks to secure his first title in 2018.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion is ranked 22 in the world after losing to Italy’s Marco Cecchinato in the French Open quarter-finals.

Hampered by an elbow injury last year, Djokovic has failed to reach the semi-finals in any of his last five Grand Slam appearances and accepted a wildcard to Queen’s as he seeks to regain his best form before Wimbledon starts on 2 July.

If Djokovic wins the semi-final and goes on to take the Queen’s title for the first time, he will pass Stefan Edberg in ninth place on the all-time list for most men’s singles wins.

Jimmy Connors heads the list with 1,256 wins ahead of second-placed Roger Federer, who has 1,156.

“It’s a milestone, and of course it’s a great achievement,” said Djokovic about his 800th victory. “Every achievement is a great achievement. I should be happy for it and proud of it.

“When you work all your life for something and then you get rewards for it, of course it’s obviously very positive and I’m thrilled.

“I’m grateful, as well, as I’m able to play so many matches and to win so many matches in my career.

“It’s still the sport that I love with all my heart. I put in that heart every single day, and I’m very glad to be able to play semi-finals here after Rome and Roland Garros tournaments that went pretty well for me.”

Kyrgios serve too good for Lopez

Kyrgios hit 32 aces as he continued his impressive run by knocking out Spain’s 2017 champion Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3).

The 23-year-old also hit 32 aces in his second-round victory over Kyle Edmund and 18 against Andy Murray in the first round.

“I can’t remember a specific time where I’ve served at this level back to back,” said the Australian world number 21.

Cilic, who reached last year’s Wimbledon final and was runner-up at this year’s Australian Open, beat American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

The 29-year-old hit 10 aces and won 91% of first-serve points to reach the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

Britain’s Dan Evans won two matches in a day to claim a place in Wimbledon’s qualifying competition.

The 28-year-old was not given a wildcard by the All England Club after he served a ban for taking cocaine.

Playing in the pre-qualifying event, Evans beat Briton Marcus Willis 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) on Friday.

The world number 340 then fought back to beat compatriot Jack Findel-Hawkins 6-4 3-6 6-3 and ensure a place in Monday’s qualifiers at Roehampton.

Evans will need to win a further three matches to reach the Wimbledon main draw.

His best performance at Wimbledon came in 2016, where he reached the third round before losing to Roger Federer.

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British number one Kyle Edmund was knocked out of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queen’s Club in the second round by Nick Kyrgios.

Kyrgios, who beat Britain’s Andy Murray in the first round, won 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 against seventh seed Edmund.

He will be joined in the quarter-finals by Novak Djokovic, who beat second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-1.

Serbian 12-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, a wildcard at Queen’s after injuries, won in just over an hour.

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‘No logic’ to Kyrgios game

Australian Kyrgios, 23, was at his unpredictable best against Edmund, playing ‘hot dog’ shots through his legs and delivering 135mph second serves.

Edmund, who had been the only Briton left in the tournament, levelled the match with a roar when Kyrgios’ shot went long in the second-set tie-break.

But in the next game Kyrgios resumed his unconventional tennis, lobbing Edmund with a shot between his legs, which had BBC commentator John Lloyd exclaiming: “That is insane. There is no logic to that shot at all.

“To go for the lob from that position… that’s one of the most inventive shots I’ve ever seen. How can you get away with that?”

Kyrgios broke in the fourth game of the third set and, despite looking increasingly uncomfortable with a hip problem, held on to serve out the match, sealing victory with a backhand down the line.

Kyrgios, who has been fined over his behaviour in the past, became frustrated towards the end of the match and was heard swearing towards his player’s box.

Asked by a reporter about his outburst, he said: “Do you swear? No, do you swear? Yes or no? Yes or no? Do you swear? Do you swear?”

Kyrgios faces 2017 champion Feliciano Lopez in the quarter-finals.

“I knew today was going to be tough,” Kyrgios, who served 32 aces to Edmund’s 11, told BBC Sport.

“Kyle’s had a great year. He’s got a lot of firepower. It was a great battle.

“I haven’t played too many matches in the past couple of months. Serving for a match of this value is not easy and I’m happy to get through it.”

The players met again later on Thursday, with Edmund and Neal Skupski beating Kyrgios and compatriot Lleyton Hewitt 6-1 6-4 in the doubles.

Djokovic breezes past off-colour Dimitrov

Djokovic registered his first win over a top-10 player since May 2017 with a speedy victory over Dimitrov.

Bulgarian Dimitrov struggled for rhythm and won only 54% of points on his first serve.

He served five double-faults, one of which allowed Djokovic to close out the opening set, and created only one break point opportunity.

While it was not always easy for Djokovic – he double-faulted three times in attempting to close out the match – he targeted Dimitrov’s backhand as he registered his 799th career win.

“Grigor made some crucial double faults today that handed me the first set,” Djokovic told BBC Sport.

“He loves playing on grass. He’s a great quality player.”

Djokovic will face Adrian Mannarino in Friday’s quarter-finals after the Frenchman beat compatriot Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Roger Federer saved two match points to avoid an upset against France’s Benoit Paire and reach the quarter-finals of the Halle Open.

Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion and world number one, was made to work hard by the world number 48 before winning 6-3 3-6 7-6 (9-7).

Swiss Federer, 36, missed two match points to wrap up victory without the need for a tie-break in the final set.

He faces Australian Matthew Ebden next in the grass-court tournament.

Federer, seeking a 10th Halle title, must win the event if he is to retain the world number one ranking.

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He closed out the first set with successive aces but Paire rallied to lead 4-0 and take the second.

“I created quite a few opportunities, but maybe I was a bit tentative at times,” said Federer, whose victory was his 18th in succession on grass.

“I was disappointed with my serve in the second set, being broken twice. That is not allowed to happen. I need to clean that up”.

Victory in Halle would give Federer his 99th career title.

He will begin the defence of his Wimbledon title on 2 July.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has been awarded a wildcard into Eastbourne as he continues his return from a knee injury.

Wawrinka, ranked 261st in the world, has not played in the event since 2007, when it was staged in Nottingham.

The Swiss was beaten by America’s Sam Querrey in the second round at Queen’s on Wednesday.

“I believe I am physically fit enough to play my best tennis now,” the 31-year-old said.

Wawrinka lost in the first round at last year’s Wimbledon after struggling with his knee, and had surgery on the injury in August 2017.

“It isn’t easy to start from zero after surgery and stay positive,” Wawrinka added.

“I am looking forward to getting used to playing important points again and feeling right mentally on the court.”

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