2023-07-11 21:54:00
The statistics are staggering. Tuesday July 11, Novak Djokovic joined his 46th Grand Slam half, as much as Roger Federer, by winning his Wimbledon quarter. The Serb dismissed Andrey Rublev (4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3), who was trying to reach … for the very first time in the last four, after seven previous failures in the quarters. But “Nole” is not one to share, nor does he care about such data. “Thank you for reminding them, but they are only numbers!”, He laughed during his post-match interview on center court. The world number 2 may repeat that he does not a cure, the report is quickly established. At Wimbledon, there is Djoko and the others, and an unfortunate slip from Rublev reminded him. “He never… Well, I don’t know, but he hasn’t lost here for a long time,” the Russian got confused at a press conference. Since July 2, 2016 very precisely, in the 3rd round against Sam Querrey. Carlos Alcaraz was 13 years old, and Djoko had lost two tie-breaks that day. Another time, then. After this mishap – and a retirement the following year – the Serb has won 33 games in a row at Wimbledon, current series.
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“Of course I’m the favourite!”
No one resists him, and yet it is not for lack of trying. “I know they want to beat me, but for the moment no one can do it!”, He jubilantly, in a statement in all modesty. Since Federer’s retirement, who, if not him, can afford such provocations on the London lawn? “Every player wants to be in this position, he continued. It’s a privilege.” What does the master of trashtalk inspire in his upcoming semi-final against Jannik Sinner? “I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but of course I’m the favourite!”
Tuesday, however, there was a match on center court and, as in the previous round against Hubert Hurkacz, Djokovic dropped a set, keeping his opponent hopeful. “For the first time, I was ready enough to play against him,” revealed Rublev. And the Russian has, for a time, held off the Serb, hardening the exchange with very powerful forehands. “He put a lot of pressure on me, with intensity in his game, he praised about his victim of the day. We hear him growl on each shot, it’s sometimes scary!” This posture was not enough to change the fear of camp. “Of course I was nervous, admitted Rublev. He plays the best tennis of all time…”
Sinner, the last to take two sets from him in a Major
This nervousness undeniably influences at certain key moments, where the address and the aura of the Serb allow him to turn the tide. Like in the third set, when Djokovic dismissed three break points at 5-4, to finally win the game and the set. This inspires his opponent with a clear and implacable observation: “I had the opportunities, I did not materialize them. He did.”
Will we head for an identical scenario against Jannik Sinner, a novice at this level, in the semi-finals? If the Italian has his magic recipe – a dish of pasta with tomato sauce the day before matches – it may not be enough. “It’s a bit of a mental game, isn’t it?” he asked himself. Precisely, the major confrontation between the two players, in the quarterfinals last year, was probably played in the head: Sinner led two sets to zero, before collapsing (5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2). Will the endless story repeat itself?
Novak Djokovic
Credit: Getty Images
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