Highlights:
- Djokovic reaches his 12th Wimbledon semifinal and equals Federer’s record of 46 Grand Slam quarterfinals.
- Djokovic belives he is the top contender to win Wimbledon, based on his past success and current graph.
- With a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory, Djokovic advanced to the final where he will play Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
Even if it seems “arrogant,” Novak Djokovic stated that he believes he is the “favourite” to win this year’s Wimbledon title. The Serbian legend defeated Andrey Rublev in four sets on Tuesday to advance to his 12th Wimbledon semi-final and record-equalling 46th Grand Slam quarterfinal. After winning by scores of 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, Djokovic, who was going for his eighth championship at the All England Club and 24th major overall, will take on Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final match of the tournament.
Djokovic remarked, “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself favourite.” He further said, “Judging by the results I had in my career here, the last four times at Wimbledon that I won, so I do consider myself favourite, yes.”
The 36-year-old said he was enjoying being the one to beat as he competed in his 400th Grand Slam match on Tuesday.
After Roger Federer, Novak played his 400th Majors match, becoming the second male player to do so. The Serb moved closer to Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer by winning his 33rd straight match at The All England Club and reaching his 12th Wimbledon semi-final.
World No. 1 and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is still competing in the tournament and will face fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Christopher Eubanks will take on Daniil Medvedev, who in the 2021 US Open final defeated Djokovic’s attempt to win his first calendar Grand Slam.
Rublev had a strong start on Tuesday against a rival who had given him just seven games in their previous meeting at the same level of the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic missed three break points in the opening set before being punished when Rublev broke to take the lead at 5-4. When Djokovic scored a service return in the following game, the 25-year-old Russian took the lead. Djokovic dropped that second set at Wimbledon this year, and he was appropriately enraged in reaction. He quickly took a 5-0 lead in the second set, allowing Rublev only six points during that span, and then levelled the quarterfinal.
Djokovic broke in the fifth game of the third set, survived two break points in the second game, and extended his lead to two sets to one in the tenth game. However, the conversion was not easy; the winner needed five set points to win while also brushing off three break points. He broke for a 2-1 lead in the fourth to seal the victory after firing 42 winners past Rublev.
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