In a gripping Wimbledon quarterfinal, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic triumphs over Andrey Rublev.
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CNN – On Tuesday, it took Novak Djokovic’s utmost skill to outplay Andrey Rublev, achieving a 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory and securing his spot in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Rublev, who hasn’t yet tasted the semifinals of a grand slam, was on fire in the initial set, leveraging his powerful serve and dominating with his ground strokes, securing an advantage early on.
Yet, confronting a dominant force like Djokovic often shifts the momentum. Rublev struggled to keep up the initial vigor, allowing Djokovic to seize the subsequent set.
Rublev, however, reignited his game, giving Djokovic a run for his money in the third set. But the 23-time grand slam victor managed to retain his serve after a marathon 15-minute game, clinching a 2-1 lead.
Even though Rublev persistently rallied, he couldn’t replicate the magic of the first set. An early break in the fourth set paved the way for Rublev’s familiar grand slam quarterfinal exit.
It’s truly astounding how, even at 36, Djokovic continues to produce some of his career’s best tennis. With every round, he further cements his position as the predominant contender for the Wimbledon title.
This win against Rublev ensures Djokovic’s participation in his 46th grand slam semifinal, matching Roger Federer’s unparalleled record. Yet, Djokovic emphasized that he isn’t caught up in the numbers.
“Such statistics are mere figures, and while the tournament is ongoing, I prefer not to dwell on them,”
Djokovic conveyed during his court-side chat.
“I remain focused on the ongoing competition, as do other contenders. All I foresee is the escalating challenges ahead. However, I’m satisfied with today’s gameplay and the court’s ambiance. I’m optimistic about clinching another victory soon,”
he elaborated.
Interestingly, the one possibly not cheering for Djokovic’s win might be his own child, Tara. The global No. 2 revealed to the BBC before the quarterfinal that Tara is fond of Rublev, particularly charmed by his headband and fervor.
Aligning with his daughter’s sentiments, Djokovic acknowledged Rublev’s prowess, saying,
“The match had exhilarating exchanges. His on-court energy is palpable, almost intimidating, both in terms of his shots and the echoing force.”
Praising Rublev, Djokovic added,
“Having been a top 10 contender for several years, he deserves commendation for today’s commendable performance and his tournament run.”
Looming ahead for Djokovic, who aspires to equal Federer’s quintet of back-to-back Wimbledon victories – a record he shares with Björn Borg – and to clinch his eighth title, is the emerging talent Jannick Sinner, who outperformed Russia’s Roman Safiullin earlier that day.
