Djokovic Battles Back Against De Minaur, Secures Wimbledon Quarterfinal Berth

London: Displaying remarkable resilience, Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to defeat Alex de Minaur and secure his place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The match, held on Centre Court, saw Djokovic initially struggle before finding his rhythm and dominating the later sets.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Australia's Alex de Minaur during a fourth round men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

After a difficult first set, Djokovic rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, advancing to his 63rd Grand Slam quarterfinal. The match lasted three hours and 18 minutes.

The day at Wimbledon started with challenging conditions: wind and intermittent sunshine. Despite the weather, Centre Court was filled with spectators, including tennis legend Roger Federer.

De Minaur, who had to withdraw from last year's Wimbledon quarterfinal due to injury, initially played exceptionally well. However, Djokovic's adjustments, particularly increasing the pace on his forehand, eventually put De Minaur on the defensive.

The second set began with a series of breaks. De Minaur clinched the second game after nine deuces and six break-points. Djokovic then regained control, holding at love to take a 3-1 lead. Supported by his fiance, Katie Boulter, De Minaur faltered in the third set, allowing Djokovic to seize a two-sets-to-one advantage.

In the fourth set, De Minaur surged ahead with a 4-1 lead, raising the possibility of a fifth set. However, Djokovic had other plans. He broke back in the seventh game, leveled the score at 4-4, and ultimately closed out the match.

Djokovic addressed concerns about stomach issues, stating he simply needed a breather after long rallies. He also acknowledged Federer's presence in the audience, joking about breaking a "curse" of losing when Federer watches him.

In other news, Italian player Flavio Cobolli defeated Marin Cilic to reach his first Wimbledon quarterfinal. He will face his idol, Djokovic, in the next round. Belinda Bencic also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova.