Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic trailed for the first time in this year’s Wimbledon as Andrey Rublev won the first set against the World No.2. However the defending champion responded by registering a 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory to advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, 12th July 2023. He has now reached his career’s 46th Grand Slam semifinal and has equalled Roger Federer’s tally.
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“In terms of the numbers. Thanks for bringing them up. But they are just numbers at the end of the day. Particularly during tournaments, I don’t like to spend too much time thinking about statistics and the achievements,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview when he was informed of having equalled Federer’s record.
“Obviously it’s a tournament that is still active for me. I am still in it. All I am thinking about is directing my attention to the next match. It is only going to get tougher. But I liked the way I payed today. Hopefully I can have another win in few days time,” he further added.
Rublev played some brilliant tennis that would have accounted for pretty much any other player in the world. But it was not enough to stop the 36-year-old. Djokovic praised Rublev soon after his victory. “There were thrilling rallies. Andrey is a guy I respect a lot. He brings in lot of intensity on the court. You can see it with the way he is grunting after shots especially in the forehand. It’s kind of scary,” he chuckled.
“Obviously he has been someone in the Top 10 for quite a few years and I wish him best of luck. I have to congratulate him for a great match today and a great tournament,” he added.
When Rublev broke serve in the eighth game courtesy of a couple of beefy forehands and held serve thanks to a Djokovic error to win the opening set it seemed a first win in a Grand Slam quarter-final at the eighth attempt was possible – even against a man without a Centre Court loss for a decade.
But Djokovic quickly reasserted his authority to race through a one-sided second set. The Serbian was in control as he broke serve early in the third set but Rublev was not done and Djokovic was stretched to his elastic-limbed limits when serving at 5-4, fending off three break points and needing five set points in a sensational game to move within a set of his 33rd successive Wimbledon win.
“I love it. It’s true. Any Tennis player wants to be in a position where every player wants to win against you. It is a privilege. Pressure is part of our sport and it is never going to go away regardless of how many Grand Slam you win. The pressure is paramount every single time I come on to the court, particularly here at the Wimbledon. It awakens the most beautiful emotions in me and it motivates me beyond what I have ever dreamed of and it inspires me to play best Tennis. I know that they (other players) want to win but it ain’t happening still.”
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