Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has secured his place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after a four-set victory over Australian Alex de Minaur. The match, held at the prestigious All England Club, saw Djokovic overcome a challenging start to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. This victory marks Djokovic’s 16th appearance in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, highlighting his enduring prowess on the grass courts.

In attendance was Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, who resides in London but is not participating in the ongoing Test series between India and England. Following his win, Djokovic shared insights into his friendship with Kohli, revealing that they have been in touch via text messages for several years. Despite their communication, the two sports icons have yet to meet in person. Djokovic expressed admiration for Kohli’s career achievements and was honored by Kohli’s praise on social media, where Kohli referred to Djokovic as a “gladiator.”

Djokovic also humorously mentioned his attempts at playing cricket, acknowledging that he has not found the same success as he has in tennis. He noted cricket’s popularity in Australia and India and joked about needing to improve his skills before visiting India to avoid embarrassment.

The match against de Minaur was a test of resilience for Djokovic. After losing the first set, he regained control by minimizing errors and capitalizing on opportunities. De Minaur had previously withdrawn from a quarter-final clash against Djokovic due to injury but was unable to replicate his earlier form this time. Djokovic’s victory sets him on a path to potentially equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles.

With contributions from AFP