Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star, declared himself the “favorite” to claim victory in this year’s Wimbledon tournament despite concerns of sounding “arrogant.” Djokovic secured a place in his 12th Wimbledon semi-final, equalling the Grand Slam record of 46 semi-final appearances, with a hard-fought four-set triumph over Russia’s Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.
In his pursuit of an eighth title at the prestigious All England Club and his 24th career major, Djokovic battled to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory and now sets his sights on facing Italy’s rising star, Jannik Sinner, for a coveted spot in the final.
With his latest semi-final appearance, the 36-year-old Djokovic has now matched the retired Roger Federer’s impressive record of reaching the last four stages of Grand Slam events. Djokovic expressed his self-assurance by saying, “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite. Judging by the results I have achieved throughout my career here, the last four times I won Wimbledon, I do consider myself the favorite, yes.”
Remarkably, Djokovic played his 400th Grand Slam match on Tuesday, relishing the pressure of being the player to beat. Undeterred by the mounting expectations, he expressed his enjoyment, stating, “I love it. Any player wants to be in the position where all the other players want to beat you.” His record of not being defeated on Centre Court since 2013 further solidifies his reputation as a formidable force in the tennis world.
Andrey Rublev, currently ranked seventh in the world, suffered his eighth consecutive quarter-final defeat in a major tournament. Reflecting on his loss to Djokovic, Rublev acknowledged the Serbian’s superiority, stating, “I had these little chances but I didn’t make them. He made them. That’s why he’s Novak, one of the greatest players in history.”
Despite Djokovic’s confidence, the world number one and reigning US Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz, remains in the tournament and is set to compete in the quarter-finals against fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune on Wednesday. Another formidable opponent, Daniil Medvedev, who thwarted Djokovic’s pursuit of a calendar Grand Slam in the 2021 US Open final, will face the unseeded Christopher Eubanks in his quarter-final match.
During Tuesday’s encounter, Rublev started strongly, capitalizing on Djokovic’s missed opportunities as he broke the Serbian’s serve for a 5-4 lead, ultimately winning the first set. This marked only the second set Djokovic has conceded at Wimbledon this year. However, Djokovic responded emphatically, racing to a commanding 5-0 lead in the second set and conceding just six points in that stretch, eventually leveling the match.
In the third set, Djokovic demonstrated resilience by saving two break points in the second game, ultimately breaking Rublev’s serve in the fifth game and securing a two-sets-to-one lead in the tenth game.
Although Djokovic faced some challenges during the match, requiring five set points to seal victory while simultaneously saving three break points, his triumph seemed inevitable. He broke Rublev’s serve for a 2-1 lead in the fourth set and concluded the match with an impressive tally of 42 winners against the Russian player.
Djokovic’s unwavering confidence and determination have set the stage for an enthralling semi-final clash against Jannik Sinner as he continues his quest for an eighth Wimbledon title and a place among tennis’ all-time greats. Tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the outcome of this highly anticipated showdown on Centre Court.
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