Novak Djokovic might not have been at his sharpest on Centre Court during his fourth-round match at Wimbledon, but he was definitely at his most charming after the win.
Novak Djokovic Breaks ‘Federer Curse’ on Centre Court
After battling through a tough match, Novak Djokovic took a moment to acknowledge someone special in the crowd: his longtime rival, Roger Federer, who was sitting in the Royal Box.
With a smile, Novak Djokovic shared a fun little secret. He had never won a match with Federer watching from the stands. That all changed on Monday.
By clinching the win, Djokovic not only moved into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 16th time but also broke what he jokingly called a “curse” – finally winning in front of Federer.
The so-called curse looked like it might continue when Djokovic was totally outplayed in the first set, losing 1-6 to Australia’s 11th seed, Alex de Minaur. But the Serbian star turned things around, battling back to win the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
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The hard-fought victory took three hours and 19 minutes.
“I mean, it’s probably the first time he’s actually watching me-and I ended up winning the match. I’d lost the previous couple, so it was good to break that curse. It’s fantastic to have Roger here: a huge champion, someone I’ve admired and respected deeply,”
Roger Federer’s Reaction Delights the Crowd
The moment clearly meant a lot to Djokovic, who has shared countless epic battles with Federer over the years. Seeing his old rival in the stands added a special touch to an already memorable win.
Federer responded with a warm smile, appreciating Djokovic’s humour as the crowd enjoyed the friendly moment between two of tennis’s all-time greats.
“We’ve shared the stage for so many years, and it’s wonderful to have him back at his favourite tournament, and in this setting. He’s by far the most successful player here-without question,” Djokovic added.
Watch the video:
"It's probably the first time he's watched me and I won the match."
Novak Djokovic is relieved to get a win in front of Roger Federer 😅#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Q6H1G1p91p
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2025
The match was anything but easy. De Minaur moved brilliantly around the court, forcing Djokovic to fight hard for every point. After dominating the first set 6-1, the Australian looked firmly in control until Djokovic broke his serve. De Minaur had been using his high, loopy backhand to great effect, cleverly disrupting Djokovic’s rhythm and flow.
After clinching the victory, Djokovic gave another playful nod to Federer, this time joking about his own skills at the net.
“Sometimes I wish I had a serve-and-volley and nice touch from the gentleman that’s standing there. That would help,” he quipped, glancing toward Federer.
Despite a rocky start, Novak Djokovic eventually found his rhythm and powered through the second and third sets. Just when it seemed like he was on his way to a straightforward win in four, De Minaur came back strong, breaking early in the fourth and regaining the sharpness he had shown at the beginning. His variety once again put Djokovic under pressure.
At one point, Djokovic showed signs of frustration, shouting animatedly toward his box. But the 24-time Grand Slam champion flipped the script in style, winning 18 points in a row and taking five straight games to seal the match in four sets.
His wife Jelena and their children were visibly thrilled as Djokovic came through a tough challenge, proving his stamina and mental strength once again.
Quarter-Final Showdown with Flavio Cobolli
Next up, he’ll take on 23-year-old Italian rising star Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. Cobolli reached the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career after defeating Marin Cilic earlier in the day.
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