Djokovic Survives Cobolli Onslaught To Reach Record 14th Wimbledon Semi-final

The siren telephone of a grounds 25th expansive slam title grows ever louder for Novak Djokovic. But he was fixed a scare by nan punchy young Italian Flavio Cobolli, arsenic good arsenic a nasty autumn connected lucifer point, earlier coming done a pulsating quarter-final to triumph 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.

Djokovic’s reward is simply a grounds 14th Wimbledon semi-final, 1 up of Roger Federer, and a gathering pinch nan world No 1, Jannik Sinner, connected Friday. It is simply a conflict he is intelligibly relishing.

“It motivates maine to spot really overmuch I tin still support going pinch these guys toed to toe,” he said. “For me, this is what really counts nan most. Being successful nan past stages of expansive slams and playing against nan champion subordinate successful nan world correct now. And Jannik and Carlos Alcaraz are nan leaders of men’s tennis today.”

Djokovic deed 39 winners and made conscionable 22 errors against Cobolli, and reached shots that would person flown past lesser opponents. But he admits that Sinner, and perchance Alcaraz successful nan final, will beryllium a acold tougher beingness test.

“I americium pleased pinch nan measurement I’m playing,” Djokovic said. “Physically I dream that I’ll beryllium capable to prolong that. That’s much of a interest than game‑wise. I deliberation game-wise nan measurement I’m emotion nan shot erstwhile I’m fresh and ready, I consciousness for illustration I tin spell toed to toed pinch those guys and moreover hit them if I’m playing my best.”

Beforehand nan communicative of nan portion was truthful overwhelmingly successful Djokovic’s favour that fewer gave Cobolli a shot. The Italian, aft all, came into this lucifer pinch a 1-11 grounds against nan world’s apical 10. His profession grounds connected writer stood astatine a humble 9 wins and six defeats. And he was up against nan top of each time, nan seven-time champion here, and personification who had thrashed him 6-1, 6-2 successful their only meeting.

But this was a different Cobolli, 1 wished to rotation nan dice and pinch nan assurance to judge he could supply nan biggest daze of Wimbledon this year.

In nan past 16, Alex de Minaur had tried to conclusion Djokovic by mixing deft spins and devilish unpredictability, and utilizing nan swirling upwind arsenic his friend. Cobolli’s attack was much blunt. He simply wanted to blast Djokovic disconnected nan court. It astir worked, too.

Djokovic said: “He played astatine a really precocious level. And astatine immoderate parts of nan lucifer he was conscionable serving truthful bully that I wasn’t capable to publication aliases onslaught it.”

Flavio Cobolli looks skywards during his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Initially nan Italian looked to beryllium emotion nan unit of his first expansive slam quarter-final. His first changeable – a return of service – scooted into nan net. And his 2nd was a mis-hit.

But Cobolli was wished to deed himself retired of trouble. Serves were thundered down astatine much than 130mph, forehands were struck level and hard, and he kept digging himself retired of imaginable potholes.

It said everything astir nan Italian’s crippled that moreover erstwhile down 5-3 successful nan first set, he collapsed backmost instantly and past took it connected a tie‑break aft a 137mph serve.

Perhaps understandably, fixed this was his first clip connected Centre Court and he was playing his idol, Cobolli past had a wobble. From 2-1 up successful nan 2nd set, he mislaid 7 games successful a row. In truth, it looked over.

From nowhere, however, Cobolli’s radar abruptly started moving again. At 2-0 down successful nan 3rd group he collapsed backmost and led 5-4 earlier nerves sewage nan amended of him.

Still nan Italian kept fighting. But astatine 4-4 and 30-30 successful nan 4th set, nan hostility became excessively much. A double-handed backhand went halfway up nan nett earlier a driblet volley was fluffed.

Novak Djokovic fans cheer their man connected during his quarter-final against Flavio Cobolli. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

It near Djokovic serving for nan match. But location was still clip for much play as, connected nan 2nd lucifer point, nan Serb fell look first connected to nan writer aft different Cobolli victor flashed past him and he appeared to wounded his hip.

“It was a nasty fall,” Djokovic said. “It was very awkward. That happens connected nan grass. I’ve had rather a fewer of those passim my writer tribunal career.

“Obviously, my assemblage is not nan aforesaid coming for illustration it was before, truthful I conjecture nan existent effect of what happened I will consciousness tomorrow. So let’s see. I’m hoping nan adjacent 24-48 hours that nan severity is not excessively bad, that I’ll beryllium capable to play astatine my champion and beryllium free of symptom successful 2 days.”

After nan autumn it took him a while to get up. Yet 2 points later, his hands were pointing skyward successful triumph. Djokovic continues to confound expectations. Against Sinner he will person to do truthful again.