Mon Jul 07 20:06:00 UTC 2025: **Djokovic Overcomes Slow Start, “Breaks Curse” in Front of Federer at Wimbledon**
**London, UK** – Novak Djokovic overcame a sluggish start and a determined Alex de Minaur to reach his 16th Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday, with a special guest watching from the royal box: Roger Federer. The seven-time champion dropped the first set 1-6 but rallied to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, keeping his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title alive. Indian cricket star Virat Kohli was also in attendance and gave praise to the Serbian player.
“It’s probably the first time he’s watching me and I’ve won the match,” Djokovic said of Federer, who holds the record for eight Wimbledon men’s titles, a feat Djokovic could equal this year. “The last couple I lost, so good to break the curse. It’s great to have Roger, a huge champion and someone that I admired and respected a lot.”
Djokovic struggled early, committing 16 unforced errors in the first set. De Minaur capitalized, breaking Djokovic’s serve multiple times. However, the Serb found his rhythm, battling through a grueling second set and eventually taking control. De Minaur briefly surged ahead in the fourth set, but Djokovic roared back to secure the victory after three hours and 18 minutes.
Djokovic will face Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals. A potential semi-final showdown against world number one Jannik Sinner looms.
First Piper 