Djokovic Rallies Past De Minaur to Reach Wimbledon Quarterfinal, Ends Federer Curse
Novak Djokovic survived one of his toughest Wimbledon tests in years to defeat Australia’s Alex de Minaur in four sets, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in front of former rival Roger Federer. The sixth seed struggled early but clawed his way back after a shaky first set, ending a personal losing streak in matches watched live by Federer from the stands.
“This is probably the first time he’s watching me and I’ve actually won,” Djokovic said after the match. “The last couple of times, I lost, so it’s good to break the curse.”
The match, played on Centre Court, lasted three hours and 18 minutes. Djokovic fell behind early, giving up three breaks of serve in a first set riddled with double faults and unforced errors. De Minaur broke in the opening game, held serve, and quickly surged to a 4-1 lead, capitalizing on Djokovic’s erratic play.
Djokovic, 38, appeared out of rhythm and conceded the first set after only 30 minutes. But his experience showed as he broke serve in the first game of the second set, signaling a shift in momentum. Though he still faced pressure from De Minaur, including six break points in the opening two games, Djokovic steadied himself, eventually leveling the match with a powerful service hold under duress.
In the third set, De Minaur stayed aggressive, pushing Djokovic with consistent baseline rallies. But the Serbian found a breakthrough in the ninth game and closed the set with a well-placed drop shot, turning the match on its head.
The fourth set brought fresh tension. De Minaur jumped out to a 4-1 lead after breaking Djokovic’s serve. But the veteran refused to fold. He saved a key break point to avoid going down 5-1, then strung together five straight games to seal the win. That run marked his 43rd victory in his last 45 matches at Wimbledon.
“I don’t know how I’m feeling, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “It wasn’t a great start for me, but I was pleased to stay composed in the key moments and win this one.”
Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion, watched from the Royal Box. Djokovic is now within three victories of matching that record and is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title.
Djokovic’s win puts him into his 16th Wimbledon quarterfinal, second only to Federer’s 18 in the Open era. He will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli for a place in the semifinals. If he wins, a possible clash with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner could follow.
With his performance, Djokovic becomes the third man in the Open era to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals after turning 38, joining Federer and Ken Rosewall. Despite a rough start, his return to form confirms his ongoing presence among tennis’s elite even as age closes in.
“This is his most successful tournament,” Djokovic said about Federer. “It’s great to see him back here. We’ve shared the court many times, and I’ve always respected him deeply.”
Djokovic’s quest for history continues.
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