By: Kwame Bediako
Novak Djokovic once again demonstrated his trademark resilience at Wimbledon, overcoming a tough challenge from Italy’s Flavio Cobolli to secure a spot in the semi-finals of The Championships for a record 14th time.
The Serbian star, who had narrowly escaped defeat in the previous round against Alex de Minaur, found himself trailing early against the young Italian before mounting a determined comeback to win 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in a grueling three-hour-and-eleven-minute battle on Wednesday.
Djokovic’s path to the semi-finals was anything but smooth, as Cobolli pushed the Serbian to the limit with aggressive shot-making and relentless energy. After dropping the first set in a close tiebreak, Djokovic adjusted his tactics and regained control, dominating the second set 6-2. The third set proved pivotal, with Djokovic edging out Cobolli 7-5 to seize momentum heading into the fourth.
Despite facing two match points, Djokovic’s composure under pressure was on full display. He failed to convert his first two opportunities to close out the match, even slipping on the baseline during the second match point. However, the 37-year-old quickly recovered, stretching out his leg before returning to his feet and ultimately sealing the victory.
His experience and mental toughness proved decisive in the final moments of the contest. This victory extends Djokovic’s remarkable Wimbledon legacy, setting a new record for the most semi-final appearances at the tournament. His ability to navigate challenging matches and deliver under pressure continues to set him apart as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
