Novak Djokovic secured his place in the Wimbledon semi-finals and matched Roger Federer’s record of 46 Grand Slam semi-final appearances with a four-set victory over Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.
The Serb, aiming for his eighth title at the All England Club and 24th major of his career, fought back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and set up a clash with Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.
In his 400th Grand Slam match, Djokovic demonstrated his resilience and determination, refusing to let the pressure affect his performance. He relished the challenge of being the player everyone wants to beat and maintained his impeccable record on Centre Court since 2013.
Rublev, ranked seventh in the world, showed promise early on, capitalizing on a break in the first set to take a 5-4 lead. However, Djokovic swiftly regained control, dominating the second set with a 5-0 lead and levelling the quarter-final match.
The third set saw Djokovic showcase his defensive skills, saving two break points and securing a crucial break in the fifth game.
He sealed the set 6-4, inching closer to victory. While the fourth set was not without its challenges, Djokovic’s dominance shone through as he broke Rublev to take a 2-1 lead before eventually closing out the match.
With an impressive tally of 42 winners, Djokovic displayed his all-around prowess on the court. As he moves forward to face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, the world will be watching to see if Djokovic can continue his quest for another Wimbledon title and potentially surpass Federer’s record in the process.
