Novak Djokovic once again showcased his legendary resilience at Wimbledon, overcoming a spirited challenge from Italy’s Flavio Cobolli to book his place in the semi-finals of The Championships for a record 14th time.
The 37-year-old Serbian, who had narrowly escaped defeat in the previous round against Alex de Minaur, found himself under pressure early on before rallying to claim a 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory in a gruelling three-hour-and-eleven-minute contest on Wednesday.
Cobolli, playing fearless tennis, stunned Centre Court by taking the opening set in a tense tiebreak. The Italian’s aggressive shot-making and relentless energy pushed Djokovic to the brink. However, the seven-time Wimbledon champion responded in trademark fashion—adjusting his tactics, raising his level, and sweeping through the second set with authority.
The third set proved decisive. After a series of tightly contested games, Djokovic broke late to take it 7-5, swinging the momentum firmly in his favour. In the fourth, Cobolli continued to fight but was ultimately unable to withstand the pressure and experience of his opponent.
The match saw high drama in the closing stages. Djokovic failed to convert two match points—including one in which he slipped on the baseline, sparking brief concern from the crowd. Nevertheless, he recovered quickly, stretched out his leg to ease the tension, and regrouped to serve out the match.
Djokovic’s mental fortitude and ability to deliver in critical moments once again proved the difference, as he surpassed Roger Federer’s previous record of 13 Wimbledon semi-final appearances.
“It was a very tough match. Flavio played amazing tennis and really made me work for every point,” Djokovic said after the match. “I’m proud of how I managed to stay composed and find solutions. Reaching another semi-final here means a lot.”
With his sights set on an eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam overall, Djokovic now awaits the winner of the quarter-final clash between [insert opponent] in what promises to be another high-stakes encounter on the lawns of SW19.
