Novak Djokovic outlasted Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller that lasted over five hours in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tue., July 7.
After three tiebreaks, including a super tiebreak in the fifth set, Djokovic prevailed 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(4) in the tournament’s longest quarterfinal—and one of its longest matches—ever.
“What can I say? These are the kind of moments that I still play tennis for,” the 39 year-old said in his post-match interview.
Canada’s Auger-Aliassime served 29 aces and managed to save 11 of 13 break points, but also only broke Djokovic’s serve twice in the match.
“Towards the end [it was] really anybody’s game. I think the scoreline was pretty much even all the way through,” he said.
Djokovic credited his victory to a lot of heart and properly managing his nerves in the extreme tension he said is common in these types of matches.
“I wish it was [the] finals, you know, so I don’t need to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow,” he joked.
Djokovic said the win certainly carries more significance at this stage of his career, played in front of his family.
“I was telling the kids to go to sleep after [the] fourth [set], but they didn’t want to listen, and I’m glad they stayed because it was honestly one of the best matches I was a part of on this court in my career,” he said.
Djokovic has only played in a fifth-set deciding tie break two other times in his career: the second round of the 2007 U.S. Open and the iconic 2019 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. He won both of those matches.
Despite it being his 55th Grand Slam semifinal, including his 15th at Wimbledon, and 8th consecutive at the tournament, Djokovic brushed off the records.
“It’s just another semi-final for me. I’m going to look at all the numbers and everything when I finish my career. Right now, it’s all business,” he said. “I still have to recover. I’m still in the tournament and I have [to play against the] best player in the world in [a] few days.”
The matchup he referenced is Friday’s highly anticipated rematch of last year’s semi-final against world no. 1 and reigning champion Jannik Sinner.
Sinner ousted Djokovic in a straightforward three-set victory in last year’s Wimbledon. But the 7-time Wimbledon champion got his revenge in this year’s Australian Open, beating Sinner in five sets before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the finals.
Djokovic is aiming to tie Federer with an 8th Wimbledon title, one of the only records left Djokovic hasn’t broken. In his previous match against qualifier Roman Safiullin, Djokovic broke Federer’s Wimbledon match-win record.
