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Fantastic Djokovic repels Rublev to reach Wimbledon semifinals

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LONDON, July 12: Novak Djokovic’s celebration after finishing off Andrey Rublev in a high-octane Wimbledon quarter-final said it all on Tuesday.
The scoreline may look comfortable enough after the 36-year-old fought back from losing the first set to win 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 — his 33rd successive victory at Wimbledon.
But the seven-time champion knew he had been in a battle against the inspired seventh seed.
“I think today he played terrific tennis,” Djokovic said of an opponent he thrashed en route to winning the Australian Open at the start of the year. ”He was putting a lot of pressure, playing very quick, standing close to the line and trying to push me back. It was like a dogfight, to be honest.
“Some points in the match were so long and exhausting. Those games at the end of the third set where basically the match was decided. I felt huge relief when I won the third set.”
Djokovic had looked in control but the 10th game of the second set, spanning 15 minutes and including some spellbinding rallies, saw him save three break points and need five set points before finally sealing the set. Another feisty encounter will be in store on Friday when Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and fifth in a row, faces Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner.
Like Rublev, Sinner will go after the 36-year-old Djokovic with his aggressive game and the Serbian will need no reminding that he trailed Sinner by two sets in last year’s quarter-finals before reeling him in.
Sinner stops Safiullin
Eighth seed Jannik Sinner broke new ground at Wimbledon on Tuesday as the Italian powered into the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over big-hitting Russian Roman Safiullin.
The 21-year-old has made the most of a favourable draw at the grasscourt major this year and became the first man to reach the final four without taking on a top 50 opponent since both Boris Becker and Pete Sampras did so in 1995. The win also meant Sinner became only the third Italian man to make the Wimbledon semis after Nicola Pietrangeli and Matteo Berrettini but he had to overcome a wobble against the inspired Safiullin midway through the contest. Up next for Sinner is a meeting with holder Novak Djokovic.
Sabalenka overpowers Keys
Aryna Sabalenka has booked her berth in the last four at 2023 Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-4 win over American Madison Keys on Wednesday.
Sabalenka can become the new number one in women’s singles tennis if she wins her semi-final duel, ending the run of Iga Swiatek (67 weeks).
Sabalenka has been in solid form this year. Sabalenka, who missed last year’s Wimbledon, has reached her second semi-final. The victory improved Sabalenka’s record to 17-1 at major tournaments this year. She won the Australian Open and reached the semifinals at the French Open before her five wins so far on the grass at Wimbledon.
Sabalenka also improved her record to 6-0 in Grand Slam quarterfinal matches, and she did so despite much of the cheering going toward Keys on Wednesday.
“Thank you so much for the atmosphere, even though you supported her more,” Sabalenka said on court. “I still enjoyed playing in front of you guys.” She will meet Tunisian Ons Jabuer in the semis.
Jabeur gets revenage on Rybakina
Ons Jabeur got her revenge on Elena Rybakina to knock the defending champion out of Wimbledon. In the reverse of last year’s final, Jabeur fought from a set down to earn a brilliant 6-7 6-4 6-1 win and set up a semi-final clash with Aryna Sabalenka. The Tunisian flashed a stunning array of winners to break Rybakina twice in the third set and end the 24-year-old’s title defence.
A year ago Jabeur looked on course to become the first Arabic and African female champion before fading to lose in three sets but the dream is still on in 2023 after the sixth seed mounted a spirited comeback having looked distraught after the first set tiebreak went against her.
Queen Camilla attends Wimbledon
A week after Princess Kate graced Centre Court at Wimbledon by taking a seat in the Royal Box, Queen Camilla made an appearance at the Grand Slam tennis tournament on Wednesday.
The queen, the wife of King Charles III, was wearing a white dress at the All England Club, where the players on court dress all in white.
When she arrived at the club, Camilla met with some ball boys and ball girls — the kids who run across the court chasing stray balls after a point is finished or a serve goes awry.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, sat in the Royal Box on Day 2 of the tournament. Others to sit in the section reserved mainly for royalty and celebrities include David Beckham. Members of the English Women’s football team who are injured and will miss the Women’s World Cup. (AP)

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