Key Points

Suryakumar Yadav openly expressed his admiration for Novak Djokovic, calling him an inspiration ahead of the Wimbledon semifinals. Djokovic is chasing history, aiming to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles. The Serbian star overcame a tough quarterfinal against Flavio Cobolli to reach his 14th semifinal. With two more wins, Djokovic could claim his 25th Grand Slam title, further cementing his legacy.

Key Points: Suryakumar Yadav Reveals Djokovic Inspiration Ahead of Wimbledon Semis

  • Suryakumar Yadav admires Djokovic's perseverance and relates to his late-career success
  • Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner in a high-stakes Wimbledon semifinal
  • The Serbian star aims to match Federer's record eight Wimbledon titles
  • Djokovic overcame a tough match against Cobolli to reach his 14th semifinal
2 min read

Have definitely come to watch him: Suryakumar on Djokovic ahead of Wimbledon semifinals

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav shares how Novak Djokovic's journey motivated him as he watches the Serbian star at Wimbledon.

"I have definitely come to watch Novak Djokovic. I have been following his career for a very long time. – Suryakumar Yadav"

London, July 11

India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav said he has come to watch and support his "inspiration" Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of ongoing 2025 edition of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Serbian superstar's challenger in the semifinal is world number one Jannik Sinner, with the Italian ending Ben Shelton's run in the competition with a 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 win

Speaking at JioHotstar, Suryakumar said, "I have definitely come to watch Novak Djokovic. I have been following his career for a very long time. I even read his book 'Serve to Win', which really inspired me. I made my international cricket debut a little later in life, though not quite as late as 30, but I could really relate to his journey and perseverance. The way he keeps going is phenomenal."

Djokovic took one step closer to record-levelling eighth-time Wimbledon glory as he battled past Flavio Cobolli to advance to a record 14th semifinal at the tournament on Wednesday.

Having dropped the first set to Alex de Minaur in the final 16 clash recently, Djokovic found himself in the same situation. But as it is with champions of his calibre, Djokovic found his answers when it was needed the most, producing a clutch comeback to secure a 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Djokovic had a little scare, slipping on the baseline. However, after some leg stretches, he was back to his feet for a battle which lasted three hours and 11 minutes.

Serbian struggled to keep up with the Italians' athleticism and shot-making in the first set. But his big match came in handy against his opponent, who was competing in his first-ever quarterfinal at Wimbledon.

This is his 102nd win in the tournament and takes his season record to 26-8. Two more victories, and Djokovic will be able to secure his record-extending 25th Grand Slam title and his first since the US Open 2023.

He will also level with Swiss icon Roger Federer for the joint-most Wimbledon titles, with eight each. The former world number one has not had a good time at title clashes in London as of late, having lost his previous two Wimbledon titles in successive years to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Ananya R
Djokovic's comeback in that match was unbelievable! That's why he's the GOAT 🐐. Surya bhai has good taste in role models. Both show age is just a number when you have passion!
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Sarah B
While I admire Djokovic's skills, I wish Suryakumar would also support Indian tennis players like Sumit Nagal. Our athletes need this kind of encouragement too!
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Vikram M
That slip gave me a heart attack! But champions like Djokovic always bounce back. Reminds me of how SKY plays those impossible shots in T20s. True sportsmanship on display 👏
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Priya S
Interesting to see cricket and tennis connections! Both require such different skills but same mental toughness. Hope Djokovic wins and dedicates it to his Indian fans 🇮🇳💙
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Michael C
As a tennis fan in India, this crossover is amazing! Djokovic's longevity is insane - 14 semifinals! Hope Surya takes some mental notes for the next T20 World Cup 😉

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