Djokovic Battles Back Against De Minaur, Clinches Wimbledon Quarterfinal and 63rd Grand Slam Milestone

Djokovic Mounts Comeback Against De Minaur, Secures 63rd Grand Slam Quarterfinal Berth at Wimbledon 2025

London: It's not about the initial stumble, but the strength of the recovery. Novak Djokovic embodied this adage with a stunning turnaround on Wimbledon's Centre Court.

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 shaky start, conceding the first set in a mere 30 minutes with a meager 14 points, the 38-year-old Djokovic, visibly discomforted and clutching his stomach during changeovers, orchestrated a remarkable comeback against the 11th seed, Alex de Minaur. The Serbian star unleashed an astonishing surge in the fourth set, claiming five consecutive games to seal a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory in three hours and 18 minutes. This win propelled him into his 16th quarterfinal appearance at the prestigious Church Road tournament.

Monday's conditions at SW19 were challenging, marked by wet and windy weather. The atmosphere was further intensified by intermittent sunshine and a biting wind that prompted spectators to don winter attire. Centre Court was filled to capacity with the roof open and in attendance was the iconic eight-time champion, Roger Federer.

De Minaur's unfortunate withdrawal from last year's Wimbledon quarterfinal due to a hip injury paved the way for Djokovic's easy passage to the semi-finals. This time, the 11th seed showcased his prowess, initially captivating the crowd. However, Djokovic's strategic acceleration of his forehand, skillfully placing the ball beyond De Minaur's reach, forced the Aussie onto the defensive. The 26-year-old appeared to run out of options as the match progressed.

The second set saw a flurry of breaks in the first three games. De Minaur's victory in the second game was a hard-fought affair, characterized by nine deuces and six break-points. However, the Serbian maestro regained control, holding at love in the fourth game to establish a 3-1 lead. De Minaur, supported by his fiance Katie Boulter, faltered in the ninth game of the third set, allowing Djokovic to seize a two sets-to-one advantage.

When De Minaur surged ahead to a 4-1 lead in the fourth set, compelling Djokovic to scramble from corner to corner, speculation grew that the 24-time Major winner's fourth-round encounter would extend to a deciding set.

However, Djokovic had other plans, showing no intention of contesting a fifth set. He executed a crucial break in the seventh game and leveled the score at 4-4 before firmly closing the door on his opponent.

Dismissing concerns about his physical condition, the world No. 6 attributed his momentary discomfort to the need for a breather following grueling 30-plus shot rallies.

"Sometimes I wish I had a serve and volley and nice touch (like) the gentleman that’s standing there. That would help,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview, acknowledging Federer. “It’s probably the first time he has watched me and I’ve won the match. The last couple I lost, it’s good to break the curse.”

In another fourth-round match, the 22nd seed Italian Flavio Cobolli defeated the 2017 Wimbledon finalist Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) to make the quarterfinal at the grass court Slam for the first time. In the last -eight clash the 23-year-old Italian faces his idol Djokovic for the second time in his career, having lost their lone meeting in Shanghai.

Swiss Belinda Bencic, one of nine mothers in the draw, made her first quarterfinal here with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over the 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.