How Did Djokovic Overcome De Minaur to Reach QFs?

London, July 7 (NationPress) Novak Djokovic, a former champion, overcame a challenging beginning to triumph over Australia's Alex de Minaur with scores of 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday, securing his spot in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2025 for an impressive 16th occasion. The seven-time champion initially struggled but displayed his signature resilience and composure to regain control and move closer to potentially matching the record for an eighth title at the prestigious All England Club.

De Minaur, who had to withdraw prior to facing Djokovic in last year's quarterfinals due to injury, began strongly under breezy conditions on Centre Court. The World No. 11 broke Djokovic's serve three times, dominating the opening set, while the 37-year-old Serbian found it difficult to establish his rhythm amidst the swirling winds.

"I am still trying to process the entire match and what occurred on the court," Djokovic confessed. "My start was far from ideal. He broke my serve three times in the first set. The conditions were very windy and swirling…he managed to handle the situation better from the back of the court."

However, as he has done numerous times throughout his career, Djokovic discovered a pathway back into the match. At 4-5 down in the second set, he saved break points and held on to level the match, which marked the turning point. He tightened his baseline game, minimized errors, and expertly moved De Minaur around the court, eventually sealing victory after three hours and 18 minutes, having rallied from 1-4 down in the fourth set.

"It was a lot of cat-and-mouse play…he is among the quickest players on the Tour. On grass, where the ball bounces low, it is exceedingly challenging to play against someone like him if you're not feeling the ball well," Djokovic stated. "He exposes all your weaknesses, and I was pleased to remain tough during the critical moments."

With this victory, Djokovic improved his Wimbledon match record to 101-11, only trailing behind Roger Federer’s 105 wins at the tournament. Federer, who watched from the Royal Box, even received a light-hearted mention. "Sometimes, I wish I had a serve-and-volley style and the finesse of the gentleman standing right there," Djokovic joked, pointing at Federer.

Next, Djokovic will face Italian rising star Flavio Cobolli, who reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final by defeating Marin Cilic. With just three wins now standing between him and a 25th Grand Slam title, along with a potential eighth Wimbledon crown, the Serbian is once again on the brink of history.