Djokovic chases history as quarter-finals heat up in Wimbledon pressure-cooker

THE SUN finally shone on Novak Djokovic on Tuesday – both literally and figuratively – as the Serbian veteran overcame a slow start and the watchful eye of longtime rival Roger Federer to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. 

And though Wednesday’s forecast in London promises a mix of early sunshine and passing clouds, the action at SW19 is set to brighten even further as the tournament edges closer to its defining clashes.

Djokovic dropped the first set 1-6 to Australia’s Alex de Minaur and looked shaky again in the fourth, trailing 4-1. But as he’s done so many times before, the seven-time champion clawed his way back to win in four sets, grinding out a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in three hours and 18 minutes on Centre Court. 

The BBC reported that with Federer looking on from the Royal Box, Djokovic joked afterwards: “This is probably the first time he is watching me and I have won the match! The last couple of times I lost, so it's good to break the curse … We shared the stage for many years and it is great to have him back at his most successful and favourite tournament.”

Djokovic will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli for a place in the semi-finals – and potentially world No.1 Jannik Sinner after that, although Sinner’s fitness remains in doubt. 

The Italian withdrew from training and underwent an MRI scan on his elbow after sustaining an injury during his fourth-round win over Grigor Dimitrov. His quarter-final against Ben Shelton is still scheduled for Wednesday, but his participation is uncertain.

Meanwhile, over on No.1 Court, Reuters reports that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had warned that facing Britain’s Cameron Norrie could be a nightmare. And briefly, as he slipped to 0-40 in his opening service game, it looked like that might come true. 

But any dreams of an upset were quickly crushed. Alcaraz roared into gear, brushing Norrie aside in straight sets – 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 – to book a semi-final meeting with American Taylor Fritz, who has quietly built a strong campaign of his own.

According to Reuters, in the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka looked in danger of joining the growing list of top seeds sent packing. The world No.1 dropped the first set to 37-year-old Laura Siegemund, whose deft slices and vintage shot selection briefly turned Centre Court into a throwback theatre. 

But Sabalenka held firm, rallying to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, and crediting her emotional control for the comeback.

“I think there’s a big possibility that I would have lost this match if I didn't learn that lesson at the French Open,” she said. “In some moments I just ... kept reminding myself, ‘Come on, it’s the quarter-final of Wimbledon, you cannot give up.’ ”

Sabalenka will meet Amanda Anisimova in the semi-final. The American edged past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two tight sets, converting her fourth match point and saving five set points in a nervy tie-break. 

Sabalenka may be the favourite, but Anisimova holds a narrow 5-3 advantage in their head-to-head meetings, although the Belarusian did beat her just last month at Roland Garros.

As Wimbledon nears its climax, with half the quarter-final slots already decided, Wednesday’s play is crucial in setting up both the men’s and women’s semi-final line-ups.

Schedule: Wednesday, July 9 (SAST)

• Women's quarter-final: No.7 Mirra Andreeva vs Belinda Bencic | 2.30pm | Centre Court
• Men's quarter-final: No.6 Novak Djokovic vs No.22 Flavio Cobolli | Centre Court after Andreeva–Bencic
• Women's quarter-final: No.8 Iga Swiatek vs No.19 Liudmila Samsonova | 2.30pm | Court 1
• Men's quarter-final: No.1 Jannik Sinner vs No.10 Ben Shelton | Court 1 after Swiatek–Samsonova