For anyone else it could be a case of claiming the unthinkable.
But for Novak Djokovic it’s only a case of bluntly saying precisely what all of us are about his Wimbledon supremacy.
The seven-time champion mentioned he considers himself “favourite” to carry this yr’s Wimbledon title even when it makes him sound “arrogant”.
The Serb star reached his twelfth Wimbledon semi-final and record-equalling forty sixth on the Grand Slams with a four-set victory over Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.
Djokovic, chasing an eighth title on the All England Club and twenty fourth profession main, got here via 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and can face Italy’s Jannik Sinner for a spot within the last.
He has now reached as many semi-finals on the Slams because the retired Roger Federer.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself favourite,” mentioned Djokovic.
“Judging by the results I had in my career here, the last four times at Wimbledon that I won, so I do consider myself favourite, yes.” The 36-year-old was taking part in in his four-hundredth Grand Slam match on Tuesday and insisted he was having fun with being the person to beat.
“I love it. Any player wants to be in the position where all the other players want to beat you,” he mentioned after preserving his document of not being defeated on Centre Court since 2013.
“The pressure never goes away every time I come on court.
“They want to get a scalp and the win — but it ain’t happening!” Rublev, the world quantity seven, has now misplaced all eight quarter-finals he has performed on the majors.
“I had these little chances but I didn’t make them. He made them. That’s why he’s Novak, one of the greatest players in history,” he mentioned.
Despite Djokovic’s confidence, world primary and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz remains to be within the match and performs his quarter-final towards fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune on Wednesday.
Daniil Medvedev, who shattered Djokovic’s bid for his first calendar Grand Slam within the US Open last in 2021, faces unseeded Christopher Eubanks.
On Tuesday, Rublev loved a promising begin towards a participant who allowed him simply seven video games once they met on the identical stage of the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic noticed three break factors come and go within the first set and was made to pay when Rublev broke for a 5-4 lead.
The 25-year-old Russian claimed the opener within the subsequent recreation when Djokovic netted a service return.
That was the second set dropped by Djokovic at Wimbledon this yr and he was suitably fired up in response.
He raced to a 5-0 lead within the second set, permitting Rublev simply six factors in that stretch, earlier than happening to stage the quarter-final.
In the third set, Djokovic saved two break factors within the second recreation, broke within the fifth and moved to a two units to at least one lead within the tenth recreation.
It was not a easy conversion, nonetheless, with the champion needing 5 set factors to complete the job whereas on the identical time saving three break factors.
The end result was inevitable as he broke for a 2-1 lead within the fourth earlier than wrapping up the match having fired 42 winners previous Rublev.
Source: www.news.com.au
