Photo credit: Kirill Kudryavtseva-AFP-Getty
Sliding into a split behind the baseline, Novak Djokovic crashed face first to the court.
A hushed silence shrouded Centre Court like a curtain as Djokovic lay on the lawn.
On this day, nothing could keep the seven-time champion down.
Rising up from that nasty fall, Djokovic wrapped a demanding 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 conquest over a tough Flavio Cobolli advancing to his record 14th Wimbledon semifinal.
It is the record-extending 52nd major semifinal for Djokovic, who delivered confident solutions, but also left the court facing physical questions.
Will the 38-year-old Serbian superstar fully recover in time for his semifinal showdown vs. world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday?
Asked how he feels after the fall, Djokovic joked “Very fresh.”
“I finished the match in a few points,” Djokovic said. “A nasty slip, but that’s what happens when you play on grass. I think I didn’t fall so far this year—it’s a bit surprising the way I move with a lot of sliding and aggressive movement you're expected to fall.
“It did come at an awkward moment, but somehow I managed to find a good serve and close it out. Hopefully I’ll be well in two days.”
Prior to today’s semifinal win, the Grand Slam king met with Queen Camila.
On Friday, Djokovic faces Sinner in their second straight Slam semifinal duel.
Earlier, the top-seeded Italian did not seemed fazed by an elbow injury strong-arming Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4, to reach his second Wimbledon semifinal.
It was Sinner’s 20th consecutive win against Americans. Last month, a red-hot Sinner scorched 44 winners and saved three set points in the third set fending off Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in three hours, 16 minutes to advance to his maiden Roland Garros final.
“Me and Novak, we know us better because we played quite a lot. So we understand what's working and what's not,” Sinner said. “But yeah, I've never won against him here in Wimbledon, so it's going to be a very, very tough challenge.”
The top-seeded Sinner and two-time reigning champion Alcaraz have combined to claim the last six Grand Slam crowns, but Djokovic is highly motivated to capture a record-extending 25th major championship.
It won’t be easy as Djokovic is giving up 15 years in age to the world No. 1, who handed the former No. 1 his first Slam straight-sets semifinal loss in 15 years in their last meeting.
Today, a resourceful Djokovic repelled first-time quarterfinalist Cobolli, who grew up idolizing Djokovic and posted “Me vs. my idol” on Instagram yesterday in preparation for this duel.
The 22nd-seeded Cobolli showed no signs of hero worship on court serving big, hitting 12 more winners (51 to 39), converting both of his break points and blistering his forehand to burn Djokovic at times.
Still, this could have been a straight-sets win for Djokovic, who held set point in the opening set and converted six of 12 break points on the day. Credit Cobolli for fighting for three hours, 11 minutes—and for the class and concern he showed running around the net to try to help his hero after Djokovic’s fall in the final game.
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Serving for the set at 5-3, Djokovic was burned by a pair of Cobolli forehand strikes to fall into a love-30 hole. Successive errors from the Serbian gave Cobolli the love break.
Cobolli saved a set point when Djokovic missed a crosscourt forehand wide. Given new life, Cobolli cracked an ace and snapped a smash to level the set after 10 games.
In the first-set tiebreaker, Cobolli cracked an ace for 5-3. Though Djokovic saved a set point, Cobolli rocked the veteran with a running forehand crosscourt pass for a second set point at 7-6.
Hammering the wide serve, Cobolli snatched an opening set that saw him comeback from 3-5 down and save a set point.
The 24th-ranked Italian fired 22 winners to 14 for Djokovic in the 68-minute opener.
Shaking it off, Djokovic lengthened laser drives and burned through 11 consecutive points blowing open the second set surging to a 5-2 double-break lead.
Djokovic slammed shot a superb second set in 25 minutes stamping his third shutout game of the second set to level the match.
An oppressive Djokovic permitted just two points on serve in the second set.
The 38-year-old Serbian superstar suffocated the first time major quarterfinalist breaking immediately at 15 to open the third set. Djokovic reeled off 14 straight service points by the time he backed up the break with a love hold for 2-0.
Sun burst through the late afternoon cloud cover and left a squinting Djokovic trying to locate his toss. Cobolli rapped a clean forehand return winner down the line to break back in the fourth game leaving Djokovic muttering misgivings at his lost lead.
Deadlocked at 5-all, the Italian was temporarily blinded by the light coughing up his fourth double fault then missing a backhand down the line to face double break point.
Djokovic drilled a forehand crosscourt and Cobolli, playing off his backfoot, could not handle it as the Serbian broke for 6-5.
Serving for the set, Djokovic wisely wore his white Lacoste baseball cap to shield his eyes from the sun. Tormenting the 23-year-old Italian with the drop shot-lob-drop shot combination platter, Djokovic left Cobolli leaning on the chair umpire’s chair seeking reprieve.
It did not come. Djokovic smoked his ninth ace out wide seizing a two-sets-to-one after two and a half hours of play.
Cruising on serve, Djokovic lashed his 11th ace to seal a love hold for 2-all in the fourth set.
All the good work the young Italian did in three hours began to crack whe Cobolli caught the baseline with a forehand approach to set up an easy forehand volley. But Cobolli bumped that routine forehand volley into net dropping serve with a painful miscue as Djokovic went up 5-4.
Slashing a pair of aces down the T, Djokovic earned double match point. Cobolli ripped a forehand return winner to save the first and on the second Djokovic crashed to court trying to adjust to a net-cord shot.
Chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore and Cobolli both raced to the fallen Serbian’s side as Djokovic did not move for a moment. In the box, wife Jelena covered her mouth with her hand in concern and the couple’s son, Stefan, covered his eyes with both hands fearing the worst.
Djokovic rose eventually and finished the job, tapping a forehand volley, his softest shot of the day, to close in three hours, 11 minutes.
Facing opponents more than a decade his junior, Djokovic looks revitalized. He threw down eight love holds today, won 69 percent of his second-serve points and was 24 of 36 at net. The serve and net play, as well as his health, will be key components when Djokovic faces Sinner on Friday.
“Wimbledon was, is and still remains and always will be the most special event we have in our sport,” Djokovic said. “It means the world that I’m still able at 38 to still play final stages at Wimbledon.
“Thank you for cheering for my age, I really appreciate that, it makes me feel very young and another thing that makes me feel very young is competing with youngsters.
“I enjoy sliding and running around the court with him and all the other guys. Speaking of young guys I’m going to have Sinner in the next round so I’m looking forward to it.”