Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime will probably be dealing with one another for less than the third time of their careers and for the primary time since 2022 once they collide within the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Tuesday.
They break up their two earlier encounters, each of which got here throughout the ’22 season. Djokovic scored a 7-5, 7-6(1) victory on the Rome Masters earlier than Auger-Aliassime prevailed 6-3, 7-6(3) on the Laver Cup.
The stakes couldn’t be a lot increased for this one, because the winner will most likely get a shot at world No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner in a significant semifinal and — particularly if it’s Djokovic — could have not less than a considerably real looking likelihood to finally raise the trophy (even when Sinner is an awesome favourite).
Djokovic’s newest bid for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title is off to a comparatively routine begin. The Serb has has gotten the job accomplished in straight units simply as soon as (towards Stefanos Tsitsipas within the second spherical) however has not but been pushed to a figth set. He additionally defeated Yibing Wu, Arthur Rinderknech, and Roman Safiullin. The 39-year-old is now 106-13 lifetime on the All-England Membership, together with 48-3 in his final 51 matches.
It’s a completely different story for Auger-Aliassime, who had not reached the quarters on the AELTC since 2021. The Canadian is lastly again on this stage following defeats of Alexander Shevchenko, Dino Prizmic, Michael Zheng, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. FAA dominated his first three matches in straight units earlier than going 5 towards Davidovich Fokina.
“It’s easy,” the world No. 4 mentioned of dealing with Djokovic. “I have to play my greatest. There’s no going by way of if I don’t play my greatest…. It’s an enormous alternative; it’s an enormous honor for me to play this match. Enjoying right here is a kind of matches that you simply wish to have and that you simply prepare for and put together for.”
Auger-Aliassime went on to say that within the early phases of his profession he would usually exit of his strategy to search recommendation from Djokovic, which the veteran would fortunately give to an appreciative teenager. It solely is sensible that Auger-Aliassime would have wished such recommendation from one of many all-time greats — particularly from one of the crucial mentally sturdy gamers in tennis historical past. And that may very well be the distinction on Tuesday. Djokovic might not have the bodily edge over guys like Auger-Aliassime, however you continue to have to love the veteran’s probabilities late in a decent Grand Slam match.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
