After defeating World No. 7 Andrey Rublev in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic boldly said that he thought he was the favorite to win the tournament this time around in the post-match interview. When asked do you consider yourself the favorite given the tennis you’re currently playing, and the fact that you only lost two sets and are the reigning champion. His response went as:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: “I don’t want to seem cocky, but I consider myself to be the favorite. I consider myself the favorite based on the results I’ve had in my career here, including four wins at Wimbledon and reaching other semifinals.”
Despite Djokovic’s assurance, the world’s top player and US Open winner Carlos Alcaraz is still alive in the competition and will face fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Djokovic’s attempt to complete the calendar Grand Slam in the US Open final in 2021, will take on Christopher Eubanks, an unseeded but successful player.
Djokovic’s assertion, on the other hand, does not appear to be exaggerated. Djokovic’s record at Wimbledon has been excellent, with a four-title streak presently in play and a push for a fifth straight and total eighth victory at the famous Major. Novak extends his Wimbledon winning run to 33 with his four-set triumph over Rublev. He is also in his 46th Grand Slam semifinal, matching Roger Federer. He is also playing in his 12th Wimbledon semifinal, trailing just Roger Federer’s 13.
Novak Djokovic relishes the pressure that comes with being the man to beat at Wimbledon
Rublev started well against the incumbent champion, claiming the first set, but faded throughout the remainder of the match. Djokovic won in four sets, displaying his customary steadiness.
Novak Djokovic discussed being the favorite to win here, claiming the pressure excites him. “I adore it. Any player wants to be in a position where everyone else wants to beat them,” he explained. “The pressure never lessens when I step onto the court,” Djokovic has been the player to beat at this event for a few years, and he is completely aware of this. “They want to win and take a scalp, but that’s not going to happen,” he laughed.
Rublev was supposed to be Djokovic’s hardest opponent thus far in this year’s event. The seventh seed may have scared a few Djokovic supporters by taking the opening set, but the Serb quickly roared back in a customary manner. Djokovic, who appears to be at his best when under duress or on the ropes, romped through the following three sets and won the match in under three hours.
In the first semifinal of Wimbledon 2023, Seb will meet Italian player and 8th seed Jannik Sinner. This is a repeat of their Wimbledon quarterfinal last year, in which Sinner fell just short of shocking the Serb, losing in five sets. The match will be played on Centre Court, which is significant given that Novak Djokovic has not lost a match on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in almost a decade. He last lost in the final to Andy Murray of the United Kingdom in 2013.
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