On Monday night The Odyssey, ÂChristopher Nolanâs three-hour epic about one manâs heroic quest, had its world premiere in London. And 24 hours later at Wimbledon, 15,000 fans on Centre Court witnessed a tennis equivalent. A Ârugged hero: Novak Djokovic. A mighty quest: the hunt for a record-breaking 25th grand slam title. There was an injury scare. Multiple shifts in momentum. And Ânumerous times where the ÂCentre Court crowd stood up and started punching the air at what they were watching.
It amounted to pure box office. And after five hours and 15 Âminutes of extraordinary tennis, it was ÂDjokovic who was again left standing after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4).
Asked how he was able to pull it out of the fire, in a match that Âfinished just six minutes before the 11pm Âcurfew, Djokovic said: âWith my racket and a lot of heart. Towards the end it was anyoneâs match. But these are still the moments I still play tennis for.
âI wish it was the final so I didnât have to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow but I am happy. I was telling the kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but I am glad they didnât listen. Because Âhonestly it was one of the best matches I have been involved in on this court in my career.â
The first set alone took 79 Âminutes, which gave an indication of what was to come. Initially it was all about might and muscle, but at 4-4 ÂDjokovic suddenly had a sharp moment of alarm after skidding to play a regulation backhand. There was a stop, a grimace, and then a squat down in apparent pain. The trainer was called. The Centre Court crowd held its collective breath. Djokovic, though, was quickly moving again â on the court and then on the scoreboard.
It took a lengthy tie-break for ÂDjokovic to establish the early supremacy, however, with the Serb winning it 12-10 after ÂAugerâAliassime hooked a wild forehand volley wide.
Both playersâ serve continued to dominate until at 3-4, Djokovicâs mind went on walkabout and he was broken for the first time after a double fault. All Auger-Aliassime needed to do was hold serve at 5-3 up to level. But that proved easier said than done as Djokovic quickly got to break point.
However, one of the points of these Championships then played out. After some initial sparring, ÂAugerâAliassime sent Djokovic wide and followed it up with a drop shot. ÂIncredibly, Djokovic didnât just reach it, he also hit an Âimpeccable flick back over his opponent. AugerâAliassime was able to scramble back, fire a desperate lob, and then meet Djokovicâs smash with a Âdoubleâhanded backhand winner from five metres behind the baseline. No wonder Centre Court erupted.
Two points later, it was one-set all and Wimbledon was Âanticipating a lateânight classic. How else to explain why, at 7.40pm, it was decided to put the roof up with 90 minutes of natural light left?
Whatever the reasoning, it certainly helped Djokovic. He began to hit the ball harder and with more depth. And while he missed three break points in Auger-Aliassameâs first service game of the third set â which lasted 15 minutes and contained 20 points â he soon had the break that was enough to win him the third set.
And when Djokovic broke again early in the fourth, it seemed that Auger-Aliassime, the younger man by 15 years, was done. How little we knew, as he broke straight back.
Djokovic, though, seemed to be Âenjoying the struggle. After one Auger-Aliassime drop shot, he shook his head in disbelief â but he also could not stop himself from smiling even after the Canadian wrapped up the fourth set in a tie-break.
As the players continued to trade blows, Centre Court was entranced by a match for the ages. At 10.18pm the crowd stood up to applaud both players, with Djokovic 4-3 ahead. The Serbâs response? A stunning backhand winner. Auger-Aliassimeâs reply? A forehand winner on the next point. It was that sort of match.
Play continued to go on serve, Djokovic leading, his opponent Âchasing. But when it came to the finalâset tie-break, Djokovic somehow was able to step up again.
His powers of defence, especially after five hours, were extraordinary as he fended off several piledrivers to move to 9-4 and then take the match. Djokovic has now reached a record 15 Wimbledon semi-finals â including eight in a row, another record.
But while the looming figure of Jannik Sinner awaits, Djokovic is determined his Homeric journey will extend beyond Friday.
âIâm going to look at all the numbers when I finish my career,â he said. âBut right now it is all business.â And you better believe it.
It amounted to pure box office. And after five hours and 15 Âminutes of extraordinary tennis, it was ÂDjokovic who was again left standing after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4).
Asked how he was able to pull it out of the fire, in a match that Âfinished just six minutes before the 11pm Âcurfew, Djokovic said: âWith my racket and a lot of heart. Towards the end it was anyoneâs match. But these are still the moments I still play tennis for.
âI wish it was the final so I didnât have to worry about how the body will feel tomorrow but I am happy. I was telling the kids to go to sleep after the fourth set but I am glad they didnât listen. Because Âhonestly it was one of the best matches I have been involved in on this court in my career.â
The first set alone took 79 Âminutes, which gave an indication of what was to come. Initially it was all about might and muscle, but at 4-4 ÂDjokovic suddenly had a sharp moment of alarm after skidding to play a regulation backhand. There was a stop, a grimace, and then a squat down in apparent pain. The trainer was called. The Centre Court crowd held its collective breath. Djokovic, though, was quickly moving again â on the court and then on the scoreboard.
It took a lengthy tie-break for ÂDjokovic to establish the early supremacy, however, with the Serb winning it 12-10 after ÂAugerâAliassime hooked a wild forehand volley wide.
Both playersâ serve continued to dominate until at 3-4, Djokovicâs mind went on walkabout and he was broken for the first time after a double fault. All Auger-Aliassime needed to do was hold serve at 5-3 up to level. But that proved easier said than done as Djokovic quickly got to break point.
However, one of the points of these Championships then played out. After some initial sparring, ÂAugerâAliassime sent Djokovic wide and followed it up with a drop shot. ÂIncredibly, Djokovic didnât just reach it, he also hit an Âimpeccable flick back over his opponent. AugerâAliassime was able to scramble back, fire a desperate lob, and then meet Djokovicâs smash with a Âdoubleâhanded backhand winner from five metres behind the baseline. No wonder Centre Court erupted.
Two points later, it was one-set all and Wimbledon was Âanticipating a lateânight classic. How else to explain why, at 7.40pm, it was decided to put the roof up with 90 minutes of natural light left?
Whatever the reasoning, it certainly helped Djokovic. He began to hit the ball harder and with more depth. And while he missed three break points in Auger-Aliassameâs first service game of the third set â which lasted 15 minutes and contained 20 points â he soon had the break that was enough to win him the third set.
And when Djokovic broke again early in the fourth, it seemed that Auger-Aliassime, the younger man by 15 years, was done. How little we knew, as he broke straight back.
Djokovic, though, seemed to be Âenjoying the struggle. After one Auger-Aliassime drop shot, he shook his head in disbelief â but he also could not stop himself from smiling even after the Canadian wrapped up the fourth set in a tie-break.
As the players continued to trade blows, Centre Court was entranced by a match for the ages. At 10.18pm the crowd stood up to applaud both players, with Djokovic 4-3 ahead. The Serbâs response? A stunning backhand winner. Auger-Aliassimeâs reply? A forehand winner on the next point. It was that sort of match.
Play continued to go on serve, Djokovic leading, his opponent Âchasing. But when it came to the finalâset tie-break, Djokovic somehow was able to step up again.
His powers of defence, especially after five hours, were extraordinary as he fended off several piledrivers to move to 9-4 and then take the match. Djokovic has now reached a record 15 Wimbledon semi-finals â including eight in a row, another record.
But while the looming figure of Jannik Sinner awaits, Djokovic is determined his Homeric journey will extend beyond Friday.
âIâm going to look at all the numbers when I finish my career,â he said. âBut right now it is all business.â And you better believe it.
