London [UK], July 8: Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to defeat Australia’s Alex de Minaur and secure his 16th career quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon on Monday. The seven-time champion battled through tough conditions and an aggressive opponent to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a three-hour-and-nineteen-minute clash.
The match began with a dominant display from De Minaur, who broke Djokovic’s serve three times in the first set and seemed in control. However, Djokovic used his vast experience to reset, turning the tide in the second set and maintaining momentum to close out the next two sets with calculated precision.
De Minaur, who had dropped just one set heading into the Round of 16, struggled to convert crucial break points and fell victim to Djokovic’s resilience and tactical variety. The Australian had withdrawn ahead of last year’s quarterfinal match against Djokovic due to injury, but this year’s encounter offered no redemption as the 24-time Grand Slam winner showcased his trademark grit.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic said, “It wasn’t a great start for me… He broke my serve three times in the first set. Very windy, swirly conditions. He was just managing better from the back of the court. I didn’t have many solutions, but I managed to reset myself.”
He added, “It was a lot of cat-and-mouse play… He is one of the quickest players on Tour. On grass, where the ball stays low, it’s very hard to face someone like him unless you’re really striking the ball cleanly. He exposes all your weaknesses.”
With this victory, Djokovic now boasts 101 Wimbledon match wins and stands just three victories away from a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. A triumph at this year’s Wimbledon would also see the 38-year-old equal Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s singles titles at the prestigious tournament.
In his trademark wit, Djokovic joked during his post-match remarks, “Sometimes, I wish I had a serve-and-volley and the nice touch from the gentleman standing right there—that would help.”
As the tournament heads into its final stretch, all eyes remain on the Serbian maestro as he chases history once again on the iconic grass courts of SW19.