logo
Wimbledon 2025: Novak Djokovic vs. Alex de Minaur

Wimbledon 2025: Novak Djokovic vs. Alex de Minaur

News.com.au16 hours ago
Alex de Minaur is out to spoil Novak Djokovic's party when the two lock horns in their round of 16 clash at Wimbledon.
The 11th seeded Aussie will enter the contest as the underdog as Djokovic seeks to move a step closer to creating history.
Djokovic vs. de Minaur preview
Novak Djokovic is looking to create even more history as he chases a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam crown as the seven-time Wimbledon champion looks to break his tie with the long-retired Margaret Court.
The sixth seeded Serbian has breezed dropped only one set through his opening three matches and set up a showdown against the 11th seeded Aussie by demolishing Davis Cup teammate Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in one hour and 47 minutes.
His victory was not only his 100th on the historic grass courts, but also put him into the fourth round for the 17th time in his 20th appearance.
De Minaur, like Djokovic, has only dropped one set through his opening three matches and knows the challenge he's set to face.
'Novak has completed the game, right? He's broken all the records. It's amazing for him to still be showing up and still showing that fire and desire to win more,' he said.
'So it's going to be the ultimate challenge, and I'm excited for it.'
The winner of the contest will take on either Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli or former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic.
Head-to-head
Novak holds a 2-1 lead over de Minaur with the Aussie's only taste of victory coming in the 2024 United Cup.
The meeting will be the first time they've locked horns on grass with Djokovic winning one clash on clay while they've split their two hard court contests.
It will be the second time they've faced off at a grand slam with Djokovic sending the Aussie packing from the 2023 Australian Open in the Round of 16.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘We've definitely turned it around': Panthers overcome horror 20 minutes to dominate June as they eye top-four finish
‘We've definitely turned it around': Panthers overcome horror 20 minutes to dominate June as they eye top-four finish

News.com.au

time20 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

‘We've definitely turned it around': Panthers overcome horror 20 minutes to dominate June as they eye top-four finish

The writing was on the wall for the Panthers after they conceded four tries in a 20-minute blitz against Newcastle that had people fearing the four-time defending premiers were destined to finish with the wooden spoon. But a State of Origin period that looked terrifying on paper has turned their season around, with Penrith going from last spot on the ladder after 12 rounds to now sit sixth with a clear path to the top four thanks to a dream draw. The Panthers have won four games on the trot, including a hard fought win over the Eels where their Origin players backed up, a thrilling win over Jarome Luai's Tigers, a stunning upset victory in Auckland without their rep stars and then an epic 8-6 result against the high-flying Bulldogs in the best game of 2025. A perfect June has helped them become one of the most dangerous teams in the comp, with coach Ivan Cleary keen to see what his troops can do going forward, starting with another game against the Eels this weekend. 'It's hard to measure it against other years, but I've definitely been happy with this period,' he said. 'It's very challenging, maybe more so this year (with us) not starting the season well. 'The boys have just put their heads down, worked hard and managed their way through as best we could. 'It'd be nice to get to the end of it (the Origin period) and set sail for the rest of the year, but I've been pretty happy with it. 'As a club and as a group, we just had to improve. We weren't doing enough often enough earlier in the season to win games, but I feel we've made those changes. It's up to us now to keep it going.' Defence has been the cornerstone of their sustained success, which explains why they were struggling so much at the start of the season as rival teams scored tries for fun. Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas killed them in the opening 25 minutes in Bathurst, but since then, the Panthers have allowed just nine tries in their past nine halves that has taken the pressure off their attack, which continues to develop. 'We played the Knights in Bathurst before Origin I, so we didn't have our Origin players and we had a few other guys missing as well,' Cleary said. 'That was probably a performance that we weren't proud of, but since then we've definitely turned it around. 'Defence has definitely improved. The game we played Parramatta, which was the week after the Knights game, there were some signs that day that our defence was getting back to the quality you need to win games regularly. 'We've shown that since as well, so hopefully that can continue.' Cleary said that the challenging start to the season was a necessary part of the journey but dismissed suggestions that early losses made them rethink their 2025 goals. The top four seemed an impossible target just a month ago, but they're only five points behind the Warriors and get to play the bottom five teams over the next five weeks before things heat up against the top three. 'We know where we wanted to finish at the start of the year and we didn't really change our mind on that,' Cleary said. 'It's more a case that we're focused on the very short term. We'll worry about the ladder and whatever else down the track because it doesn't really matter at the moment. 'You've got to prepare well and play well, and if you do that often enough then you'll win enough games.'

Paul Roos baffled by suggestions of AFL in-season tournament, warns league against mimicking NBA
Paul Roos baffled by suggestions of AFL in-season tournament, warns league against mimicking NBA

ABC News

time40 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Paul Roos baffled by suggestions of AFL in-season tournament, warns league against mimicking NBA

Australian rules great Paul Roos says he is baffled by suggestions the AFL could potentially introduce an in-season tournament. The AFL is considering a tournament similar to the NBA Cup, with the idea floated in last week's meeting between the CEOs of the league's 19 clubs. The tournament would likely be introduced after Tasmania's arrival in 2028, and the winner could stand to receive $5 million in prize money in addition to a guaranteed finals spot. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon confirmed in a statement last week that the potential in-season tournament was one of a number of ideas "with a focus on creating more content and marquee moments" during the season. The NBA introduced its in-season tournament during the 2023–24 season as a way to add weight to regular-season games played in the early portion of the season, but Roos believes the AFL should steer clear of mimicking the world's best basketball league. "If there's a league you don't want to follow in the world, it's the NBA," he told the ABC AFL Daily podcast. "The NBA ratings have absolutely plummeted. It is unwatchable now. I'm an ex-basketball player and a huge, huge basketball fan, I watched the NBA Finals and no other games at all. "They have destroyed their league by doing dumb stuff like play-in tournaments and mid-season games and changing rules offensively so you can't touch anyone, scores are 150–140, and you'll see the ratings have reflected it." Roos, who currently resides in Hawaii, explained his dismay at the constant Americanisation of Australia's leading sporting codes. "I just don't understand Australian sports administrators' fixation with American sport," he said. "Living over here now, we do not want to go down the path of a lot of what America represents now [in terms of] sport. "It's all about the individual, players changing clubs, it's all about money and all about less time at the club and more time on holidays, and this is where we're heading. "I don't understand it. It's not in my realm of thinking." Roos was the captain of Fitzroy at a time when the club was bleeding money in the early 90s. However, he does not believe the league's poorer clubs need the financial boost the in-season tournament could provide, like the Lions needed before their merger with the Brisbane Bears. "Even the $5 million, let's be honest, the lower clubs are pumped up by the AFL anyway," he said. "You're not going out of business now if you're an AFL club, so what's $5 million? "Just be honest around what it's for. What is the AFL trying to achieve? "We have a great competition, we have fans going to the game left, right and centre, we have ratings through the roof, so the game has never been in better shape. "Why do we want to change something that's not broken just because we've got a three-game gap between ninth and 10th? Is that the reason? That'll change next year. "I don't know what the objective is, that's the concern."

Canterbury preview: Peter Snowden's faith has been rewarded as a more mature Cassiel shines ahead of midweek target
Canterbury preview: Peter Snowden's faith has been rewarded as a more mature Cassiel shines ahead of midweek target

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

Canterbury preview: Peter Snowden's faith has been rewarded as a more mature Cassiel shines ahead of midweek target

Trainer Peter Snowden has always known the ability was there and while it has taken time for Cassiel to show it on race day, the gelding has delivered it in spades this preparation. Cassiel placed in three of his four runs last campaign but was his own worst enemy, according to Snowden. With maturity, the four-year-old has been much better this time in, leading all the way to score by more than a length from Apex when resuming at Canterbury on April 21 and backing it up with a two-and-a-half length win from Fly Scotty Fly at Hawkesbury four weeks later in a Benchmark 64 over 1100m with 61kg. 'He just wanted to go too hard and too quick in his races,' Snowden said. 'He is racing a lot more tractably and it is showing in his performances on race day. 'He's probably one of the best trackworkers I've ever had but come race day he just wanted to overdo it and [was] beating himself. 'Now, he is starting to learn to relax a lot better. 'He's not perfect but because he's relaxing more, he's able to find more at the end of his races. 'He will win a lot more races yet if he keeps going the way he is going.' Cassiel races away to salute in the last at Hawkesbury for the @SnowdenRacing1 stable! 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 17, 2025 Cassiel steps out at Canterbury on Wednesday in the Hyland Race Colours Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) with Tom Sherry again aboard. 'He's definitely going the right way and you can't beat winning form,' Snowden said. 'It's a similar race for him this week and he looks well placed in that grade.' Lightly-raced three-year-old Braveheart is another who possess nice ability and is getting better with time and maturity. 'He is a full brother to King Of Sparta and there's no reason he can't be up to that grade at some stage,' he said. 'He is very lightly raced – he's only had a handful of starts – but every start he has had, he has shown something. 'He had a few little issues in the early days but we have ironed them out now and he is going very well. 'The family keeps getting better as they get older, there's no doubt about that, and I expect him to do the same. The son of I Am Invincible caught there eye with his strong closing third behind Axius on the Kensington first-up and is a leading chance in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m). Axius is too good for them at Randwick, as he wins first up for @NockBraith and @cmaherracing! 🙌 @aus_turf_club @Dynamic_WONIT — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 25, 2025 • 'He has found the right race this week. His first-up run was very good and a similar sort of race this week should see him run very well again,' he said. 'He worked well on Saturday morning and is ready to go.' Snowden is keeping his options open as to whether Infusion makes her race debut at Canterbury in the TAB Handicap (1200m), goes to Gosford on Thursday or waits until next week. 'I just want to get her on the best track I can,' he said. 'She is more effective on good ground than soft so we will see what happens with the weather.' The three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible has been good in her barrier trials including a nose second to proven performer Highlights after tracking him in the run in her latest heat at Canterbury on June 23. 'She is a nice filly; a big strong thing,' he said 'She had a few growing pains early and it has taken us a while to get her to the track. 'She has been trialling soundly and it was a very good trial at Canterbury at her last one against good company. She was very strong to the line.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store