Novak Djokovic Triumphs Over Andrey Rublev, Advances to Wimbledon 2023 Semi-Finals Against Jannik Sinner

Wimbledon 2023 on BBC
Location: All England Club
Schedule: July 3-16
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Novak Djokovic surmounted a stern challenge from the seventh seed Andrey Rublev, keeping his quest for a record-tying eighth Wimbledon men’s championship alive.

Djokovic, who is also pursuing the achievement of matching Margaret Court’s 24 major singles titles record, retaliated to claim a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory in the quarter-finals.

The 36-year-old Serbian will face Italy’s rising star, 21-year-old Jannik Sinner, in the semi-finals on Friday.

Sinner reached his inaugural Grand Slam semi-final by overcoming Russian player Roman Safiullin with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

In comparison, this is the 46th major semi-final for Djokovic, a feat that ties him with Roger Federer’s all-time record in men’s tennis.

The upcoming semi-final is a rematch of last year’s quarter-final, where Sinner nearly defeated Djokovic, only for the seasoned player to make a comeback from two sets down to clinch the win.

Djokovic’s gritty win against Rublev was his 33rd consecutive victory at the All England Club.

Having not lost a completed match at SW19 since 2016, or a match on Centre Court since losing the 2013 final to Britain’s Andy Murray, Djokovic remains a formidable force.

“Stats are just that, numbers. In a tournament, I prefer not to dwell too much on statistics,” Djokovic commented.

“The tournament is ongoing, I’m still in the game, and my focus is entirely on my next match.

“The challenges are only going to intensify, but I’m pleased with my performance.”

In contrast to Djokovic’s wealth of experience, Rublev had never tasted the victory of a Grand Slam quarter-final.

Rublev had failed in all of his previous seven major quarter-final attempts, including a loss to Djokovic at this year’s Australian Open, where he only won seven games.

Despite his initial confidence, the 25-year-old was unable to maintain momentum, with Djokovic demonstrating his knack for schooling younger players.

When asked about being the one everyone aims to defeat, Djokovic expressed, “I love it. It’s a fact. Every tennis player wants to be in the position where everyone wants to beat you.”

Despite trading heavy shots from the baseline and saving three break points to maintain a 3-3 tie, Rublev managed to break Djokovic’s serve for a 5-4 lead before serving out the first set.

Yet Djokovic, unfazed by trailing in a match at this year’s Championships for the first time, raised his game as he often does.

Improved serving accuracy and higher return percentage allowed Djokovic to dominate shorter rallies, breaking for a 2-0 lead and again for 4-0, seizing the second set from Rublev.

Meanwhile, Sinner’s victory over Safiullin marks a significant milestone, making him the youngest man to reach the Wimbledon men’s singles semi-finals since 2007.

“It means a lot to me,” Sinner exclaimed, having celebrated his victory with arms raised.

“Countless hours of hard work and many sacrifices have been made. This is a truly gratifying moment for me.”

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More about Wimbledon 2023 Djokovic Victory

• Novak Djokovic’s Professional Statistics
• Jannik Sinner’s Professional Profile
• Wimbledon 2023 Official Site
• Detailed Coverage on BBC
• Grand Slam Records
• Andrey Rublev’s Career Overview