Novak Djokovic can match Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles. He qualified on Tuesday, July 11, for his twelfth Wimbledon semi-final by dismissing Russian Andrey Rublev (7th in the world) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. “I played well, I have the right energy and I hope to win again on Friday,” said the 36-year-old Serbian calmly, who will face the Italian Jannik Sinner (8th) for a place in the final of the tournament which he is playing for the eighteenth time.
“Djoko” also has his sights set on the record of eight titles on the London turf, held by Roger Federer in the men’s category, one length from Martina Navratilova’s all-time record (9).
So, for his 71st Grand Slam tournament, he is the player to beat, again and again. ” I love that ! Any player wants to be the one everyone else wants to beat,” he said. “The pressure is always immense, especially here at Wimbledon, but it motivates me and makes me play my best tennis. They all want my scalp, but they won’t get it! he said before adding with a laugh: “That was humility! »
In terms of records, he is also aiming for a fifth title in a row at Wimbledon to equal the series of Federer (2003-2007) and Björn Borg (1976-1980). He also reached his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, equaling Federer’s men’s record.
He played his 400th Grand Slam match on Tuesday after playing his 100th at Wimbledon in the previous round. Only Roger Federer (429) and Serena Williams (419) have played more matches in major tournaments.
Rublev resistance
On Tuesday, Rublev who had been completely helpless on the hard of the Australian Open in January, already in the quarter-finals, offered a totally different game on the London grass, where he even led a set to zero.
As proof of this resistance, in addition to the dirt staining the Russian’s T-shirt, Djokovic had to defend eight break points (one lost), but he converted seven out of twelve on Rublev’s service. “There were huge exchanges. Sometimes, between the speed of his ball and his roars, he is scary,” commented Djokovic about his opponent of the day and the famous “bweh” he lets out on his shots.
After losing this first set by giving up his serve at the end of the set, Djokovic took things in hand. Clearly, first, by making two breaks to equalize at one set everywhere. More difficult in the third set where, after making the break to lead 3-2, he served at 5-4 but only concluded on his fifth set point after saving three break points himself.
The Djoker took control of the fourth set by breaking to lead 2-1 and, this time, his domination was total since he did not have to defend a single break point in the set and he pushed Rublev into a desperate final dive on match point.
