Novak Djokovic celebrates winning a point during day nine of The Championships, Wimbledon, at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England. July 11, 2023. /CFP
Favorite Novak Djokovic found himself behind for the first time at this year's Wimbledon but responded in brutal fashion to beat Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the semifinals on Tuesday for the 12th time.
Inspired seventh seed Rublev snatched the opening set, but it was akin to poking a sleeping grizzly bear as Djokovic exacted painful punishment to stay on track for a fifth straight title.
Rublev played brilliant tennis that would have accounted for pretty much any other player in the world.
But it was not enough to stop the 36-year-old Djokovic from reaching his 46th Grand Slam semifinal, equaling the record of eight-time champion Roger Federer.
Second seed Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner next after the Italian also beat a Russian opponent in Roman Safiullin earlier on Tuesday, and he will need no reminding that he trailed Sinner by two sets in last year's quarterfinal.
Novak Djokovic (L) and Andrey Rublev greet each other at the net after their match during day nine of The Championships, Wimbledon, at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England. July 11, 2023. /CFP
At an age when normal athletes are winding down, Djokovic's thirst for battle remains unquenchable, as he demonstrated again by repelling a feisty Rublev in what was his 400th Grand Slam match – a milestone reached only by Federer and Serena Williams.
At the end of the third set, the Centre Court became a cauldron of noise as the players slugged out some mind-boggling rallies, Rublev whipping up the crowd after one and Djokovic responding by cupping his ear to the crowd after another.
Asked afterwards how he copes with the pressure of being the player everyone wants to beat every time he steps on court, the Serbian said, "I love it; I'm serious. Pressure will never go away, regardless of how many Grand Slams you win.
"Every time out here it awakens beautiful emotions and motivates me beyond anything I've dreamed of. I know they want to get the scalp; they want the win, but it ain't happening."