Wimbledon 2025: Djokovic battles back against De Minaur to stay on track for Wimbledon glory
The Serb was lethargic and unusually tentative in the early stages of his last 16 match against the Australian 11th seed on Centre Court but eventually found his rhythm to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
It keeps the seven-time champion on track for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, which would be the crowning achievement of an astonishing career.
If he wins the crown on Sunday, the 38-year-old would also draw level with Federer's record of eight men's titles at the All England Club.
The retired Swiss great watched from the royal box as his long-time rival was given his toughest test of the tournament so far.
Sixth seed Djokovic was broken in the first game and conceded two more breaks as De Minaur ran away with the first set.
The Serb committed 16 unforced errors, including four double faults in the opener.
Djokovic broke immediately at the start of the second set but then became bogged down in a game lasting nearly 19 minutes, which De Minaur won on his sixth break point.
Both players struggled to hold onto their serve in an attritional battle but Djokovic, pleading for support from the crowd, held his nerve to level the match, letting out a roar as De Minaur went long.
The third set went with serve until the ninth game, when De Minaur skewed a forehand wide to concede the crucial break.
De Minaur found new inspiration in the fourth set, surging into a 4-1 lead but crumbled at the pivotal moment as Djokovic fought back, reeling off five games in a row to seal the win.
Djokovic will play Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli in the last eight, with a potential semi-final looming against world number one Jannik Sinner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
6 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Wimbledon men's singles final: Why it's time to enjoy the Carlos Alcaraz versus Jannik Sinner rivalry
Jannik Sinner's merciless demolition of a physically compromised Novak Djokovic in their Wimbledon semifinal late on Friday may well have sounded the death knell for men's tennis's golden generation. In truth, though, the golden generation was gone quite some time ago. For more than a decade, from the mid-2000s to the late-2010s, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer took this sport to new heights. Not individually but collectively, by nearly always meeting each other in the latter stages of Grand Slams and making the sport must-see viewing. As they slowly faded, what tennis missed was not the number of Majors they were able to win, but the heightened sense of history and importance that was given to the big matches in which they faced off. And last month, when Carlos Alcaraz defeated Sinner in a five-set epic in the French Open final by recovering from a two-set deficit and down double championship point, that sense somehow returned. The die-hards and the keen observers may have already known that the matchup can produce quality – their five-set quarterfinal at the 2022 US Open may well be the best tennis to be played this decade so far – but in their first Major final, they produced an astonishing match, with the level only rising as the tension grew too. Tennis became must-see viewing again. No wonder, then, that since both began their march through the draw at the Championships this year, the clamour has been to watch a repeat of the titanic Parisian battle. It was never an unrealistic expectation; both players have pulled so far away from the rest of the tour that it would have been an anomaly had any player beaten them before they faced each other. On Sunday, Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, will play Sinner, the commanding World No.1, for the Wimbledon title. It will be the first time since Federer and Nadal's 2008 epic – widely considered the greatest tennis match of all time – that the same players will face off in the final in Paris and London back-to-back. The script has flipped since the two players came into their match in Paris five weeks ago. Then it was Sinner who looked unflappable, and Alcaraz fallible. Now, the shine has come off Sinner's domination a bit, after he lost to an unseeded player at a grass tuneup and then was on the cusp of exiting this tournament in his freakish fourth round before his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, was forced to pull out of the match due to an injury despite leading by two sets. Alcaraz, though, has looked sublime. Even when pushed under pressure, he looks at ease, always going into another gear when required. A lesser player would have lost against the sprightly Taylor Fritz in their semifinal on Friday, but Alcaraz swatted him aside in four sets. When on song, Sinner looks like a man on a mission. He flattens opponents through the draw like a mercenary snapping necks in an old-timey war film: ruthless and with cartoonish ease. But the one player that makes him look like a far cry from the best player in the world is Alcaraz. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 8-4, but far more tellingly, he has won each of their last five matches, enough to occupy substantial space in Sinner's mind. The reasons for that record are that he can, for the most part, contend with Sinner's power from the baseline and has more options to end points with his variegated artistry. His return of serve has also proved to be an effective weapon in unsettling Sinner's service rhythm. Those are likely to be two key areas in which Sinner will need to come out on top to win his first Wimbledon title and reverse this recent run of poor form against the Spaniard. His serve will need to be both accurate and consistent to give Alcaraz as few opportunities as possible. And he cannot allow the rallies to go on too long – after which, just as he did in the French Open, Alcaraz can stroll into the forecourt, away from Sinner's comfort zone of the baseline, and take control with his deft touches at the net, and mix in his slices and drop shots. When Plan A fails, Sinner must find Plan B or C. Alcaraz is in no need of improvements in that area. Either way the match goes, though, expect the Centre Court crowd to be on their feet. A new rivalry for a new era; it's enough to get even the tragic nostalgics up and excited. 11: Carlos Alcaraz becomes just the 11th player in the history of Open Era men's tennis to reach a third consecutive Wimbledon final. The other 10 players: John Newcombe, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. With a victory, he will join Borg, Sampras, Federer and Djokovic as the only players to win Wimbledon thrice back-to-back. 11: By reaching Sunday's final, Jannik Sinner became just the 11th player to have reached the final of each of the four Grand Slam tournaments in the Open Era. He is the second-youngest, after Jim Courier, to complete the feat. The Italian is also just the fifth player, after Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, to reach four Major finals in a row.
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Wimbledon 2025 Final: Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova time, head-to-head, road to final, live streaming, TV channel
Iga Swiatek (L) will take on Amanda Anisimova (R) in the Wimbledon women's singles final. Both are seeking their first title at the All England Club. (AP) Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova will face each other in the 2025 Wimbledon women's final on Saturday, ensuring an eighth consecutive first-time winner at the prestigious tournament. Both players have reached their first-ever Wimbledon final through unexpected paths, with no player managing to defend the title since Serena Williams claimed her seventh crown in 2016. Pre-tournament favourite Aryna Sabalenka, who had reached the previous three Grand Slam finals, was eliminated in a tense semi-final match by American 13th seed Anisimova. Poland's Swiatek, seeded eighth at Wimbledon, has shown improved form recently, climbing to fourth in the rankings after reaching the Bad Homburg grass-court tournament final. The 24-year-old Swiatek has quietly progressed through the tournament, losing just one set en route to the final while other top seeds faltered. She demonstrated her newfound grass-court prowess by defeating Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-0 in the semi-finals. "Honestly, I never even dreamed that it's going to be possible for me to play in the final," Swiatek said. "So I'm just super-excited and proud of myself and, I don't know, tennis keeps surprising me. I've been enjoying just this new feeling of being a bit more comfortable on grass." Swiatek has an impressive record in Grand Slam finals, winning all five of her previous appearances, with four victories at Roland Garros and one at the 2022 US Open. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo Anisimova, 23, secured her final spot with a surprising 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Sabalenka. Her journey to the final is particularly remarkable following an eight-month mental health break in 2023 that saw her ranking drop outside the top 400. "If you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon, I would not believe you. It's indescribable to be honest," Anisimova said. "I think it goes to show that it is possible. I think that's a really special message that I think I've been able to show because when I took my break, a lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game." The American, whose parents emigrated from Russia in the 1990s, has shown strong form this year, winning the Qatar Open and reaching the Queen's Club final. Her Wimbledon performance will guarantee her first-ever top 10 ranking when updated on Monday. While the finalists have never met on the professional circuit, they played once as juniors, with Swiatek emerging victorious. "I did lose that match against her, unfortunately," Anisimova recalled. "I remember a lot of coaches were saying that she's going to be a big deal one day. Obviously they were right. I'm sure it will be an amazing match. Getting to compete against an unbelievable player again is going to be super special." Iga Swiatek Road to the final Semi-final: def. Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 6-2, 6-0 Quarter-final: def. Liudmila Samsonova (Russia) 6-2, 7-5 Round of 16: def. Clara Tauson (Denmark) 6-4, 6-1 Third Round: def. Danielle Collins (USA) 6-2, 6-3 Second Round: def. Caty McNally (USA) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 First Round: def. Polina Kudermetova (Russia) 7-5, 6-1 Amanda Anisimova Road to the final Semi-final: def. Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Quarter-final: def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 6-1, 7-6(9) Round of 16: def. Linda Noskova (Czechia) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 Third Round: def. Dalma Glfi (Hungary) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 Second Round: def. Renata Zaraza (Mexico) 6-4, 6-3 First Round: def. Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 6-0, 6-0 Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova head-to-head Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova have never faced each other on the professional circuit. Wimbledon final will be their first meeting. Wimbledon Women's Singles Finals Live Streaming Details When is the Wimbledon final between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova? The Wimbledon women's singles final will be played on July 12, 2025 on the Centre Court at the All England Club in London. What time is Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon 2025? The Wimbledon 2025 Final between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova will start at 8:30pm IST/4:00pm local time/3pm GMT. Where to watch Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova? Wimbledon final will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network in India. Wimbledon Live Streaming: Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova can also be live streamed on JioHotstar website and app. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
19 minutes ago
- First Post
Wimbledon Women's Singles Final: Swiatek takes on Anisimova as Wimbledon gets ready for a new champion
Ahead of Iga Swiatek vs Amanda Anisimova match, here's how to watch the Wimbledon women's singles final on TV and live stream the final in India. read more Both Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova are playing in their first Wimbledon final. Images: AP The Wimbledon tennis championship is set to get a new winner for the eighth successive year as eighth seed Iga Swiatek of Poland takes on 13th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the women's singles final on Saturday. Swiatek stamped her authority as the queen of clay when she lifted her fourth French Open title in five years in 2024. Her vast trophy cabinet also contains the 2022 U.S. Open trophy. It has been a barren 13-month run for the 24-year-old, who has had to deal with off-court distractions after a short doping ban late last year following her positive test for trimetazidine due to contaminated sleep medication. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Swiatek gets ready for Wimbledon history While the 24-year-old has never previously had too much love for grass, with the slick surface posing a litany of challenges for the Pole, Wimbledon has offered her a golden opportunity to return to winning ways and confirm herself as an all-court ace. 'I never thought it was going to be possible,' said Swiatek, who will attempt to become the youngest woman since 20-year-old Serena Williams in 2002 to win Grand Slam singles titles on all three surfaces. 'I'm not this kind of person that sets these kinds of goals. I live tournament-by-tournament. It's not like I wake up and I'm like, 'OK, I'm going to win three Grand Slams this year' because that's not how I work. 'I have more down-to-earth goals, practising day-by-day. This is what has always been working.' Swiatek's approach has helped her fly under the radar over the past fortnight, with only one set dropped in the tournament, and she romped into the final by thrashing 2020 Olympic champion Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-0. She could become only the third woman since tennis turned professional in 1968 to win all of her first six major finals, joining Margaret Court and Monica Seles, but Swiatek is not taking the big-hitting Anisimova lightly. Anisimova looks to keep American streak alive Drawing inspiration from Williams, Anisimova will look to become the first American woman to claim the Wimbledon title since her compatriot in 2016 and keep her country's flag flying at the majors. After Madison Keys won the Australian Open at the start of the year and Coco Gauff triumphed at Roland Garros, victory for Anisimova will keep alive hopes of U.S. women completing an 'American Slam' of the four majors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Having dabbled in art while taking a mental health break from the sport in 2023 over burnout fears, the 23-year-old Anisimova will look to pick up her racket and paint a masterpiece on Centre Court with the world watching. There have been strokes of brilliance during her run this year, highlighted by her semi-final win over top seed Aryna Sabalenka, but Anisimova said reaching the level she has after her eight-month sabbatical felt even more special. 'It goes to show that it's possible,' Anisimova said. 'That's a really special message I've been able to show because when I took my break, a lot of people told me I'd never make it to the top again if I take so much time away from the game. That was a little hard to digest. 'I did want to come back and still achieve a lot and win a Grand Slam one day. Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritise yourself … that's incredibly special to me. It means a lot.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wimbledon Women's Singles Final: Live Streaming Details When is the Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final? The Wimbledon women's singles final will take place on Saturday, 12 July. Where is the Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final? The Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final will be played at Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England. When will the Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final start? The Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final will start after 8.30 PM IST on Saturday, 12 July. Where to watch the live telecast of the women's singles final at Wimbledon 2025 in India? The live telecast of the Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final will be available on the Star Sports Network TV channels in India. Where to live stream the Wimbledon 2025 women's singles final in India? The women's singles final of Wimbledon will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website. With agency inputs
