Just before Wimbledon kicked off, Novak Djokovic named it as his best opportunity to secure a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title. It was a logical prediction—after all, he’s a seven-time champion at the All England Club and had reached the final six years in a row.
But for one shaky set in Monday’s fourth-round match, that goal looked in serious doubt. Djokovic struggled early on but regained control to avoid what would have been his earliest Wimbledon exit since 2016, defeating 11th seed Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
With eight-time champion Roger Federer watching from the Royal Box, the 38-year-old Djokovic got off to a rocky start on a cool, breezy afternoon—just a week after players endured extreme heat—but eventually found his footing on the grass.
