Novak Djokovic was never one to take the easy route — and Monday’s fourth-round match at Wimbledon 2025 was no exception.
The Olympic gold medallist rallied from a set down to defeat 11th seed Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a tense battle that lasted three hours and 19 minutes. With this win, the 38-year-old Serbian star reaches the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the eighth year in a row — a streak few in history can match.
Djokovic, seeded sixth, had a rough start, dropping only his second set of the tournament as de Minaur stormed through the opener. But true to form, Djokovic found his rhythm and clawed his way back, winning three straight sets with grit and precision.
Up next, he’ll face 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who overcame former finalist Marin Čilić in four tight sets: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3). The last time Djokovic didn’t make it past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon was eight years ago — and that was due to an injury withdrawal.
“It wasn’t the best start for me — he was solid, just as I expected,” Djokovic admitted in his post-match press conference. “But the swirling wind and tricky court conditions today made it a real challenge. Honestly, it was much tougher than any other day so far in the tournament.”
The 25-time Grand Slam champion added, “It was really uncomfortable out there. Credit to him for making it hard on me. I’m just glad I found a way through.”
