Andrey Rublev was not an expiatory victim on Tuesday. But in the end it’s always Djokovic who wins, in four sets and after a great showdown on the Center Court where he has been undefeated for… ten years. The quadruple winner, who became against Hurkacz the third player in history to have played 100 matches at Wimbledon, after Jimmy Connors (102) and Roger Federer (119), signed a 32nd consecutive victory at Church Road. More than ever on the way to an eighth crown on Sunday and a 24th Grand Slam title. He will face Friday for his 46th Grand Slam semi-final Jannik Sinner who will try to take revenge on last year when he was beaten by the Serb in five sets in the quarter-finals. A feat as Djokovic reigns supreme. “The pressure is always immense, especially here at Wimbledon, but it motivates me and makes me play my best tennis. They all want my scalp, but they won’t get it!” he said before adding, laughing, “that was humility!”
In terms of records, he is also aiming for a fifth consecutive title at Wimbledon to equal the series of Federer (2003-2007) and Björn Borg (1976-1980). He also reached his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, equaling Federer’s men’s record. If he did not deserve against Djokovic on Tuesday, far from it, Andrey Rublev, winner of the last Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters did not take care of his stats: the Russian has never reached a major semi-final so far. in 8 attempts. And he made history despite himself by becoming the first player in the Open era to lose his first 8 Grand Slam quarter-finals… but if he shows the good level of play he showed against to the master of the place, the Russian can one day finally break this famous glass ceiling.
