With his quarterfinal victory against Andrey Rublev on Tuesday, seven-time Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles champion Novak Djokovic moved to the semi-final of the All England Championship 2023. Despite losing the first set, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, the Serbian has won the past eight meetings with the 25-year-old.
The 36-year-old remarked in an on-court interview after the win that it is an honor to be the man to beat at the SW19 and that he enjoys the pressure that comes with being the favorite.
“Every tennis player wants to be in a situation where their opponents are motivated to defeat them. Thus, as Billie Jean King remarked, it is a privilege and the pressure is a component of what we do. It pertains to our sport. Regardless matter how many Grand Slams you have won, how many matches you have won, or how many years you have played professionally on the tour, it will never go away, the Serbian remarked.
Every time, particularly here on Wimbledon’s Center Court, there is a tremendous amount of pressure. The 36-year-old said, “But at the same time, it brings out the most wonderful feelings in me, stimulates me beyond anything I’ve ever imagined, and gives me the inspiration to play my best tennis.
He smirked and continued, “I know they want to get a scarb, they want to win it, but it ain’t happening still,” as the Centre Court at SW19 burst out laughing.
He chuckled, “Very humble.”
With his advancement into the last four of the competition in the English suburb, the Serbian hopes to tie Roger Federer’s record of eight singles victories at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
With his victory against Roman Safiullin in four sets on Tuesday, Italian Jannick Sinner also advanced to the semifinal of the famed grass-court major. The 21-year-old recorded a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory to enter the men’s singles event’s last four stage.
In the women’s competition, world number one Iga Swiatek was eliminated by Elina Svitolina, who won 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.
