![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/skysports-novak-djokovic-tennis_5822740-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Novak")
Novak Djokovic came through a bruising battle with seventh seed Andrey Rublev to maintain his bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men\u2019s title.<\/p>\n
The Serb, also aiming to match Margaret Court\u2019s record of 24 major singles titles, fought back to win 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Second seed Djokovic, 36, will play Italy\u2019s Jannik Sinner in the last four.<\/p>\n
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Sinner, 21, reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-2.<\/p>\n
In contrast, Djokovic will contest a 46th major semi-final \u2013 having equalled Roger Federer\u2019s all-time men\u2019s record \u2013 when the pair meet on Friday.<\/p>\n
It is a repeat of their quarter-final last year when Sinner came close to beating Djokovic before the veteran fought back from two sets down to win.<\/p>\n
Four-time defending champion Djokovic\u2019s hard-fought win against Russia\u2019s Rublev was his 33rd consecutive victory at the All England Club.<\/p>\n
He has not lost a completed match in SW19 since 2016 and has not been beaten on Centre Court since losing the 2013 final against Britain\u2019s Andy Murray.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are just numbers. In a tournament, I don\u2019t like to spend too much time thinking about statistics,\u201d said Djokovic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an active tournament, I\u2019m still in it and all I\u2019m thinking about is my next match.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is only going to get tougher, but I like the way I played.\u201d<\/p>\n
Djokovic \u2018loving\u2019 still being the man to beat<\/h3>\n
While Djokovic knows exactly what it takes to reach the semi-finals of a major, Rublev had never experienced the feeling of winning a Grand Slam quarter-final.<\/p>\n
Rublev had lost all seven of his previous major quarter-finals \u2013 including a defeat by Djokovic at this year\u2019s Australian Open where he only won seven games.<\/p>\n
A light-hearted comment he made before the meeting in Melbourne, saying he wished Djokovic had been in the other side of the draw, was afterwards construed as being indicative of the lack of belief he showed on court.<\/p>\n
This time, Rublev started full of confidence. However, the 25-year-old could not sustain it as his opponent showed how he relishes putting younger players in their place.<\/p>\n
Asked about needing to respond to being the man to beat, Djokovic said: \u201cI love it. It\u2019s true. Any tennis players wants to be in the position where everyone wants to beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pair traded big blows from the baseline and, after saving three break points to hold for 3-3, Rublev pinched Djokovic\u2019s serve for 5-4 before serving out the opener.<\/p>\n
It was the first time that Djokovic had trailed in a match at this year\u2019s Championships.<\/p>\n
Like we have seen so often over the years, he responded by finding an even better level.<\/p>\n
Serving more accurately and upping his return percentage helped the Serb win more of the shorter rallies, allowing him to break for 2-0 and again for 4-0 as he quickly took the set away from Rublev.<\/p>\n
Rublev regained his level in the third set, yet still fell a break down at 3-2. But he continued to press and applied severe pressure when Djokovic tried to serve out the set.<\/p>\n
A monumental game saw Djokovic save three break points and, after reacting to the crowd getting behind Rublev by demanding more noise when he saved them, the Serb still found a way to take his fifth set point.<\/p>\n
Rublev somehow had to find another level. Djokovic refused to let him.<\/p>\n
Another early break put Djokovic in command and he sealed his place in a 12th Wimbledon semi-final by taking Rublev\u2019s serve again.<\/p>\n
Sacrifices pay off for Sinner<\/h3>\n
Sinner had lost his four previous major quarter-finals but dominated after a wobble in the second set to earn his breakthrough win.<\/p>\n
Sinner is the youngest man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 2007, although that record will be beaten by Carlos Alcaraz or Holger Rune, who contest their quarter-final on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means a lot to me,\u201d Sinner said, after standing arms aloft as he sealed the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put in a lot of work in many, many hours \u2013 a lot of sacrifices. It is a very nice moment for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
After clinching the first set with a single break of serve, Sinner, a top junior skier, led 3-1 in the second before losing five games in a row as Safiullin levelled.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Russian, 92nd in the world and bidding to be the lowest-ranked player to reach the last four since 2008, was unable to make the final two sets a contest once Sinner regained his composure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was break up in the second and got down a little bit,\u201d Sinner said. \u201cI am very happy with how I reacted.\u201d<\/p>\n
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