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via Reuters

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via Reuters

“I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance,” Novak Djokovic had declared, bidding an emotional farewell to the Paris clay and setting sights on Centre Court glory. Since then, the Serbian maestro has marched through Wimbledon with commanding ease, until yesterday. In a dramatic twist, Djokovic nearly stumbled in his R16 clash against a relentless Aussie, reminding everyone that grass courts can be ruthless. On a day when his legendary rival and dear friend, Roger Federer, watched from the Royal Box, Djokovic had to dig deep to clinch victory and penned a powerful message to Federer after his gritty triumph.

Novak Djokovic shook off a shaky start under the cloudy Wimbledon skies on Monday, roaring back to outlast a fiery Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and punch his ticket to a record-extending 16th quarterfinal in London. The Centre Court crowd, spoiled by Djokovic’s usual dominance, got a rare taste of tension as the Serbian great dropped his worst opening set ever at SW19. But like a true champion, he recalibrated, reset, and raged through the next three sets with surgical precision.

However, moments after sealing the hard-fought victory, Djokovic took to X with a playful yet pointed message, acknowledging the challenge and the wind that swirled around the battle. “Tough one today, happy to be through. @alexdeminaur and the wind are not easy to battle! Glad @rogerfederer got to see it 😆 Quarterfinals, idemooo,” he wrote, tipping his hat to the Aussie fighter, and the legend watching from the Royal Box.

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And why wouldn’t it be a tough and gritty win? Novak Djokovic’s clash with Alex de Minaur was a true test of endurance, tenacity, and precision. Credit to the Aussie, who broke back immediately after losing serve in the second, dragging Djokovic into an arduous seven-deuce slugfest. 

 

But as expected, the Serb broke again. De Minaur summoned another brave response to level, but at 3-3, Djokovic struck once more, this time to love, finishing the game with a stunning backhand slice that carved across the court and left his opponent glued to the turf. As Djokovic clinched the second set and restored order, that all-too-familiar sense of inevitability began to rise like fog at Centre Court.

The third set started more balanced, going with serve for the first 10 games. Yet the gap between surviving and thriving began to widen for De Minaur. Djokovic’s first-serve percentage surged from a shaky 48% in the opening set to a commanding 80%. At 4-4, the tension thickened. 

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De Minaur, fighting tooth and nail, suddenly cracked. Djokovic, with elastic agility, won a blistering rally at 15-30 using a sliding volley that defied physics. Then came the Aussie’s gift, a loose forehand to seal the break. A few more errors and the third set disappeared in a flash.

The No. 11 seed came out swinging in the fourth, catching Djokovic off guard and stealing an early break. He even managed to consolidate it, holding serve for a 4-2 lead. 

It was now or never. The Aussie raised his game, challenged Djokovic in every rally, and threw everything he had into each point. But Djokovic, like a shadow creeping up behind you, applied pressure with quiet intensity. He didn’t force winners; instead, he chipped away relentlessly. 4-2 became 4-3. Then 4-4. In a blink, he broke again, and just like that, the match was over. The early drama now felt like a distant memory, swallowed whole by Djokovic’s icy precision.

After the match, Djokovic, ever the cerebral tactician, offered a heartfelt and humble reflection. With Roger Federer seated in the Royal Box, a presence Djokovic has jokingly referred to as a “curse” in the past, the Serb praised De Minaur’s dynamism and fight. The Aussie had matched Djokovic’s power, read his shot-making, and owned many of the longer rallies. 

His movement was electric, and his errors were rare. For two sets, he looked like a real threat. But Djokovic just had more gears, and more ice in his veins.

Djokovic tipped his hat to Federer in his post-match interview, too. “It was a very difficult encounter, a lot of challenging moments for me. Sometimes I wish I had a serve and volley and nice touch from the gentleman that’s standing there (Federer). That would help.” It was a rare and warm nod from one great to another, a sign of mutual respect etched into history.

Now through to another Wimbledon quarterfinal, Djokovic knows the road only grows rougher from here. The draw tightens, the stakes climb, and the grass grows heavier beneath the feet. But if this match proved anything, it’s that Djokovic, gritty, cunning, and endlessly composed, is ready for every war ahead.

What were Novak’s comments on his Wimbledon performance?

Last year, heartbreak came early for Alex de Minaur, who was forced to withdraw ahead of his much-anticipated Wimbledon quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic due to a hip injury. That pain still lingers. Determined to rewrite the script, the Aussie charged into the fourth round this year, dropping just one set along the way to earn another shot at the seven-time champion. But once again, Centre Court proved unkind, and frustration followed him off the grass.

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De Minaur had aimed to reach his sixth Grand Slam quarterfinal, but Djokovic shut the door with ruthless precision. As always, Novak was unflinchingly honest in his post-match reflections. “I am still trying to process the whole match and what happened on court,” he said. “It wasn’t a great start for me, it was a great start for him. He broke my serve three times in the first set. Very windy, swirly conditions on the court. He was just managing better with the play from the back of the court.”

With this hard-earned win, Djokovic notched his 101st career victory at Wimbledon and improved to 25-8 for the season. More importantly, he now stands just three wins away from capturing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, an extraordinary mark in tennis history.

A potential crown at SW19 would also see Djokovic tie Roger Federer’s legendary record of eight Wimbledon titles. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the road only steeper from here.

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Up next for the Serbian titan is Italian rising star Flavio Cobolli, who downed former champion Marin Cilic in four sets. Can Novak keep the fire burning and inch closer to the ultimate dream: his 25th Slam? Only time, tension, and grass will tell.

Don’t miss a moment—get minute-by-minute coverage of The Championships on EssentiallySports.

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