Novak Djokovic completes comeback to beat Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, after LOSING first set

Novak Djokovic equalled Roger Federer’s record for the most men’s grand slam singles semi-final appearances in history by coming from a set down to defeat Andrey Rublev.

The Serbian’s 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory on Centre Court sent him through to the last four at a major for the 46th time and extended his winning run at Wimbledon to 33 matches.

Throughout his glittering tennis career, Djokovic has dazzled tennis fans with some of the greatest comebacks the game has ever seen. 

Some of the greatest sportsmen and women of all time are able to conjour up wins in some of the toughest of circumstances. 

Djokovic is one of those players, and his resilience at times can be super human to watch. 

Today’s win against Rublev may not go down as his greatest ever comeback win, with his 2020 resurgence from going 2-1 down against Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open final the most recent of his many revivals.

But Rublev, 25, was a formidable opponent for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, taking the first set off the Serbian to receive a huge roar from the Wimbledon crowd.  

The Russian, who has beaten the seven-time Wimbledon champion just once in their last four meetings, got off to a fast start in the quarter-final, breaking his opponent late on in the first set, to put the Serbian on the back foot.

It was a powerful display of tennis, with Rublev’s return game against Djokovic’s crashing serve a joy to watch. But like his belting forehand, his strength toequally impressive 

Rublev was impressive at the start, saving three break points, to fend off the advances of the World No 2. 

But it wasn’t long before Djokovic found his gear, hammering his way through the second set, breaking Rublev twice in quick succession to go five-love in games.

With the Serbian on the offence to take his third break, Rublev held, brining the set to 5-1, but just couldn’t hold off the ferocious advances of his opponent, who wrapped up the second session with a thunderous serve that pinged off the World No 7’s racket and over the baseline.

It was a serious statement from Djokovic, hitting back to powering past his opponent in a set that took just 28 minutes to complete, with the former World No 1 making just two unforced errors to Rublev’s six. 

With Djokovic on the attack, Rublev would serve out the opening game of the third set to put the 23-time Grand Slam winner back under pressure. But every time Rublev seemed to advance, hammering the ball back off the Serbian’s crashing serve, Djokovic would claw his way back into the match, rallying to defend his service in the second set.  

Rublev, who despite having 13 ATP Tour wins to his name has not won a Grand Slam yet, thundered on and looked strong under his opponent’s crashing serve. 

But on his own serve, the 25-year-old just couldn’t quite hold off the advances of his opponent, who broke Rublev in the fifth game of the third set to put himself in on the front foot. 

Djokovic would hold out to go 2-1 up and would come back again to break his opponent twice in the final set to book his place in the semi-finals against Jannik Sinner.

More to follow…