Djokovic survives Cobolli onslaught to reach record 14th Wimbledon semi-final

The Guardian

2 days ago

The siren call of a record 25th grand slam title grows ever louder for Novak Djokovic. But he was given a scare by the punchy young Italian Flavio Cobolli, as well as a nasty fall on match point, before coming through a pulsating quarter-final to win 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.
Djokovic's reward is a record 14th Wimbledon semi-final, one ahead of Roger Federer, and a meeting with the world No 1, Jannik Sinner, on Friday. It is a battle he is clearly relishing.
'It motivates me to see how much I can still keep going with these guys toe to toe,' he said. 'For me, this is what actually counts the most. Being in the last stages of grand slams and playing against the best player in the world right now. And Jannik and Carlos Alcaraz are the leaders of men's tennis today.'
Djokovic hit 39 winners and made just 22 errors against Cobolli, and reached shots that would have flown past lesser opponents. But he admits that Sinner, and potentially Alcaraz in the final, will prove a far tougher physical test.
'I am pleased with the way I'm playing,' Djokovic said. 'Physically I hope that I'll be able to sustain that. That's more of a concern than game‑wise. I think game-wise the way I'm feeling the ball when I'm fit and ready, I feel like I can go toe to toe with those guys and even beat them if I'm playing my best.'
Beforehand the tale of the tape was so overwhelmingly in Djokovic's favour that few gave Cobolli a shot. The Italian, after all, came into this match with a 1-11 record against the world's top 10. His career record on grass stood at a modest nine wins and six defeats. And he was up against the greatest of all time, the seven-time champion here, and someone who had thrashed him 6-1, 6-2 in their only meeting.
But this was a different Cobolli, one determined to roll the dice and with the confidence to believe he could provide the biggest shock of Wimbledon this year.
In the last 16, Alex de Minaur had tried to defeat Djokovic by mixing deft spins and devilish unpredictability, and using the swirling wind as his friend. Cobolli's approach was more blunt. He simply wanted to blast Djokovic off the court. It nearly worked, too.
Djokovic said: 'He played at a really high level. And at some parts of the match he was just serving so good that I wasn't able to read or attack it.'
Initially the Italian looked to be feeling the pressure of his first grand slam quarter-final. His first shot – a return of serve – scooted into the net. And his second was a mis-hit.
But Cobolli was determined to hit himself out of trouble. Serves were thundered down at more than 130mph, forehands were struck flat and hard, and he kept digging himself out of potential potholes.
It said everything about the Italian's game that even when down 5-3 in the first set, he broke back immediately and then took it on a tie‑break after a 137mph serve.
Perhaps understandably, given this was his first time on Centre Court and he was playing his idol, Cobolli then had a wobble. From 2-1 up in the second set, he lost seven games in a row. In truth, it looked over.
From nowhere, however, Cobolli's radar suddenly started working again. At 2-0 down in the third set he broke back and led 5-4 before nerves got the better of him.
Still the Italian kept fighting. But at 4-4 and 30-30 in the fourth set, the tension became too much. A double-handed backhand went halfway up the net before a drop volley was fluffed.
It left Djokovic serving for the match. But there was still time for more drama as, on the second match point, the Serb fell face first on to the grass after another Cobolli winner flashed past him and he appeared to hurt his hip.
'It was a nasty fall,' Djokovic said. 'It was very awkward. That happens on the grass. I've had quite a few of those throughout my grass court career.
'Obviously, my body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact of what happened I will feel tomorrow. So let's see. I'm hoping the next 24-48 hours that the severity is not too bad, that I'll be able to play at my best and be free of pain in two days.'
After the fall it took him a while to get up. Yet two points later, his hands were pointing skyward in triumph. Djokovic continues to confound expectations. Against Sinner he will have to do so again.