Novak Djokovic Chases Historic 25th Grand Slam Title at Wimbledon 2025

Novak Djokovic marched to within two wins of a record-extending eighth Wimbledon crown on Wednesday, overhauling inspired Italian debutant Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6) 6-2 7-5 (ongoing) in a dramatic Centre-Court quarter-final that underlined why the 38-year-old Serb remains the tournament’s ultimate problem-solver. Cobolli, 23 and playing the first Grand-Slam last-eight of his life, shook the Royal Box by snatching the opening tie-break with fearless forehand strikes that had Queen Camilla and Roger Federer raising eyebrows. Yet the seven-time champion absorbed the shock in trademark style. Twenty-four hours after declaring his surgically repaired right knee “100 percent match-ready”, Djokovic accelerated through the gears: shortening points with serve-volley bursts, feathering drop-shots that exposed the Italian’s court position and stretching rallies beyond the rookie’s comfort zone. The turning point arrived early in set two. Djokovic broke for 2-0 after a 20-stroke rally, cupped his ear to a crowd still humming Cobolli’s name, then reeled off eight of the next ten games. From the baseline he leaked just four unforced errors in the second set and finished it inside 33 minutes. When Cobolli produced another surge—holding to love twice and fighting back from a break in set three—Djokovic responded with an ice-cold return winner to seize the decisive break for 6-5 before sealing the set with his eighth ace. If he completes the job, Djokovic will book a 14th Wimbledon semi-final and a showdown with world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who swept past Ben Shelton earlier in the day. The prospect of a blockbuster Djokovic-Sinner rematch has already sent ticket resale sites spiralling: their Roland Garros five-set epic was interrupted by the knee injury that forced Djokovic out of Paris and into meniscus surgery on 5 June. Barely five weeks later he is 12-0 on grass, having “broken the Federer curse” by beating Alex de Minaur on Monday to avenge defeats in the last two SW19 finals. Key stats tell the comeback story. Since returning, Djokovic is winning 83 percent of first-serve points and averaging just 1.8 double faults per match. Against Cobolli, his backhand down-the-line—once tentative post-surgery—produced 11 winners and repeatedly flipped defence into attack. Off court he has leaned on cryotherapy and a vegan-leaning diet “to keep inflammation down”, measures he credits for the speed of his recovery. History is now crowding the baseline. An eighth Wimbledon title would push Djokovic past Federer and make him the oldest men’s singles champion in 147 editions. It would also draw him level with Margaret Court on 24 major crowns won on one surface (grass vs Court’s Australian hard courts) and position him for an unprecedented “40-40” season: 40 majors, 40 Masters and Olympic gold still in play next month. First, however, he must shut the door on Cobolli—no small task given the Roman’s rocket forehand and willingness to attack second serves. If experience prevails, Friday’s semi-final will offer Djokovic another crack at Sinner, the young Italian many pundits tip as heir apparent to Centre-Court supremacy. For now, the Serb strides back to his chair, ice towel draped around his neck, one set from another deep-end weekend at the All England Club. Tennis may be witnessing the twilight of an era, but Novak Djokovic is determined to make the sunset last as long as possible.