Novak Djokovic won the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history, a five-hour and 15-minute thriller, and then admitted he needed to keep his on-court interview brief because he had “no energy left”. The Serbian superstar, 39, defied age to beat third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(10) 3-6 6-3 6-7 7-6(4) in a match that finished just before the 11pm curfew.
Djokovic's Children Ignore Bedtime Orders
Djokovic’s two children, Stefan, 11, and Tara, eight, were in his box for the entire match. The No. 7 seed revealed that he told them to go to bed midway through the contest, but they did not listen. “I told them to go to bed, but they stayed,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview, adding that he had “no energy left” to continue the conversation.
Historic Match Sets New Record
The victory marked the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history, surpassing the previous record. Djokovic, who turned 39 in May, demonstrated remarkable endurance to outlast the younger Auger-Aliassime. The match was a rollercoaster, with Djokovic saving multiple set points in the first-set tiebreak and ultimately prevailing in a decisive final set tiebreak.
Djokovic’s performance drew praise from fans and pundits alike, with many noting his ability to perform under pressure despite his age. The Serbian now advances to the semi-finals, where he will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent. The win keeps his hopes of a record-extending ninth Wimbledon title alive.
