LONDON — Just before the excitement of Wimbledon unfolded, Novak Djokovic confidently proclaimed that this tournament offered him the best shot at securing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title. Given his impressive track record of seven titles and six consecutive finals appearances here, his assertion seemed entirely justified.
However, for one unexpectedly shaky set during the fourth round on Monday, it appeared that this year might not be his year. Yet, Djokovic showcased his resilience, reversing the tide and avoiding an early exit from the All England Club—a fate he hasn’t faced since 2016—by triumphing over 11th-seeded Alex de Minaur with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on the prestigious Centre Court.
With tennis legend Roger Federer enjoying the match from the front row of the Royal Box, Djokovic initially struggled on the grass, battling against a breezy 60-degree Fahrenheit (teen Celsius) afternoon—a stark contrast to the record heat experienced just a week prior.
“It was quite a challenging match for me,” Djokovic admitted just after his win, later expressing a “big, big relief” at avoiding a fifth set battle.
He found himself trailing 4-1 in the fourth set but then took command, winning the last five games and 14 of the final 15 points.
“He certainly lifted his game,” de Minaur noted with respect.
Djokovic’s quest for an eighth Wimbledon title, alongside a historic 25th Grand Slam crown, carries on as he prepares to face Italy’s No. 22 Flavio Cobolli, who reached his first major quarterfinal by defeating Marin Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3).
No. 10 Ben Shelton maintained his perfect record against Lorenzo Sonego in major tournaments this year, overcoming him 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 7-5. Shelton’s upcoming quarterfinal will be against either No. 1 Jannik Sinner or No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov.
In his match against de Minaur, Djokovic made a series of uncharacteristic errors, including four double faults in the first set alone. He struggled to hold serve, losing five of his initial seven service games to de Minaur, a formidable 26-year-old Australian who amassed a staggering 19 break points.
Djokovic recorded an astounding 16 unforced errors in the opening set.
Overall, Djokovic appeared to be off-kilter, attributing his challenges to nerves and a blustery wind. He rushed through points and displayed visible frustration, often rolling his eyes or gesturing toward his guest box for answers.
During changeovers, he placed an ice-filled towel—typically used by players in warmer conditions—on his stomach, which he had previously complained about during an earlier match. Nevertheless, he downplayed its significance afterwards.
A defeat would have marked Djokovic’s earliest exit at Wimbledon since a third-round loss to Sam Querrey nearly a decade ago.
Since capturing his record 24th major title at the 2023 U.S. Open, Djokovic has come tantalizingly close to adding to his collection. He finished as the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at last year’s Wimbledon, marking their second consecutive finals matchup with the same outcome, while also bowing out in the semifinals of the year’s first two Slams.
No player in Djokovic’s current age bracket has won a major championship, but he consistently demonstrates why the notion isn’t out of reach for him.
“I didn’t have many options, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “But I just reset myself in the second set.”
By the end of the match, it seemed de Minaur had come to terms with his defeat, recognizing he was simply the latest—though likely not the last—to fall victim to a rejuvenated Djokovic.
“I mean,” de Minaur succinctly summarized, “he’s been exceptional in crucial moments for such a long time.”
What else unfolded at Wimbledon on Monday?
No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, an 18-year-old sensation from Russia, became the youngest player to advance to the women’s quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007, triumphing over No. 10 Emma Navarro with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Andreeva is set to clash with Belinda Bencic, who beat No. 18 Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (4), 6-4. The 19th seed, Liudmila Samsonova, has reached her first major quarterfinal with a commendable 7-5, 7-5 victory against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and will face either No. 8 Iga Swiatek or No. 23 Clara Tauson next.
Who’s taking the court at the All England Club on Tuesday?
The women’s quarterfinals will feature No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka facing Laura Siegemund, and No. 13 Amanda Anisimova squaring off against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The men’s quarterfinals will showcase No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz versus Cam Norrie, and No. 5 Taylor Fritz taking on No. 17 Karen Khachanov.
