Wimbledon 2015: Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet into semis

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Gasquet beat French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 11-9 in a thrilling five-set match.

Had Wawrinka won, it would have been the first time for 20 years that all of the top four seeds had reached the last four at Wimbledon.

Earlier, top seed and world number one Djokovic made short work of Croat Marin Cilic, winning 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Switzerland's seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer plays British number one Andy Murray in Friday's other semi-final.

'Taking nothing for granted'

Novak Djokovic is into his 27th Grand Slam semi-final

Djokovic had not lost to Cilic in their previous 12 matches, and his unbeaten record never looked in danger as the US Open champion failed to cope with the Serb's precision.

The 28-year-old reached his 27th Grand Slam semi-final with his 50th win at Wimbledon, only the seventh man to reach that number of victories.

The Serb had to recover from two sets down against South African Kevin Anderson in the last 16, but his quarter-final win was far more comfortable.

Djokovic broke in the third game of the first set, the ninth game of the second set and the seventh game of the final set to wrap up victory inside two hours.

"It was a very solid performance after a tough five-set match against Kevin in the fourth round," Djokovic said.

"I didn't know how my body was going to feel. I was hoping I was going to play well and that's what I did.

"The top players are expected to reach the final stages of these competitions, but still I'm happy to make my way through. Of course I try not to take it for granted."

The eight-time Grand Slam champion hit 27 winners, making just 12 unforced errors and did not offer a single break point to Cilic.

Gasquet wins 'great battle'

In an unpredictable encounter on Court One, 21st seed Gasquet came out on top in the first set, before Wawrinka took control by taking the second and third.

With the score 5-4 on Wawrinka's serve in the fourth, the Swiss two-time Grand Slam champion produced his first double fault to send the match into a fifth set.

The pair then battled it out in an 83-minute decider, before Gasquet prevailed to reach a Wimbledon semi-final for the first time since 2007.

"It was tough and I made some mistakes," Gasquet, ranked 20th in the world, told BBC Sport.

"He had big confidence after Paris and I had to fight. I really wanted to win. It came down to mental strength. I was aggressive and it was a great battle."

Gasquet has lost 12 of his 13 matches against semi-final opponent Djokovic.

The Frenchman said: "It will be tough but I'm happy with how I've played.

"I'll try to play my best again against the best player in the world."