cnn
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Novak Djokovic had to give his best to overcome Andrey Rublev on Tuesday, winning 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in a thrilling clash to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Rublev, who has never reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam, was inspired throughout the first set, using his huge serve and powerful groundstrokes to take an early lead.
However, as is often the case when players face the imperious Djokovic, Rublev was unable to maintain the same quality and intensity as the Serbian took the second set.
But Rublev regained his form and pushed Djokovic all the way in the third set, with the 23-time Grand Slam champion holding serve after an epic 15-minute game to take a 2-1 lead.
Although Rublev continued to fight, he was unable to rekindle the same form that helped him win the first set (now a distant memory), as an early break of serve in the fourth condemned the Russian to another resounding defeat in the Grand Slam quarterfinals. .
It's quite remarkable that Djokovic has still managed to find the best tennis of his career at the age of 36 and has solidified his place as the heavy favorite to win Wimbledon with each passing round.
His victory over Rublev means Djokovic will now play in his 46th Grand Slam semi-final, tying Roger Federer's all-time record, but the Serb insists he is not thinking about records yet.
“At the end of the day, it's just numbers, especially during the tournament. I don't like to spend too much time thinking about statistics,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.
“It's a tournament that for me is active, I'm still in it, as are the other players, and that's all I'm thinking about.
“It's going to get more difficult, but I like the way I played today, the energy on the court too, so I hope I can get another win in a few days,” he added.
Perhaps the person who will be most disappointed with Djokovic's victory is his own daughter, Tara. The world number 2 told the BBC before the quarter-finals that Rublev is Tara Djokovic's favorite player as she likes his headband and the intensity of it.
Djokovic, who hasn't lost on Center Court at Wimbledon in a decade, certainly agrees with his daughter's analysis of Rublev. “There were some exciting demonstrations,” Djokovic said. “He brings a lot of intensity to the field, both the ball and the sound that comes from the corner are a little scary.
“He is someone who has been in the top 10 for a few years, I have to congratulate him on the great match today and the great tournament.”
The next opponent for Djokovic, who is looking to equal Federer's record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles (along with Björn Borg) and eight in total, is rising star Jannick Sinner, who beat Russian Roman Safiullin earlier on Tuesday.
