Novak Djokovic faced an immediate challenge against the 11th seed as blustery conditions disrupted his early game. Even the BBC commentator John McEnroe called it the “worst set” Djokovic has played in years after De Minaur took the first set 6-1. But Djokovic quickly regained his composure and mounted a strong comeback. He won the next three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, reaching his 16th Wimbledon quarterfinal. With Roger Federer watching from the stands, the tension was high. Yet, Nole pushed through, giving a special nod to his former rival!
After the match, Djokovic expressed relief at advancing but was even happier about something else. He said, “It’s probably the first time he’s watched me and I won the match! The last couple I lost, so it’s good to break the curse!” The Djoker saw the moment and seized it!
For those unfamiliar, the “Roger Federer curse” is a lighthearted, self-deprecating joke Djokovic made. Before his recent win over Alex de Minaur, he noticed he often lost matches when Federer was in the stands.
Novak: “It’s probably the first time he’s watching and I’ve won the match I lost 2x before.
“Good to break the curse!#Djokovic #Federer pic.twitter.com/d3LItxTGKo
— C Kristjánsdóttir ● (@CristinaNcl) July 7, 2025
In 2023, Roger Federer returned to Centre Court as a spectator, and Djokovic lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz—a shocking upset that ended his winning streak. Fans and pundits soon noticed a pattern: whenever Federer watched from the Royal Box, Djokovic seemed to falter. Early in this match, it looked like the curse might strike again.
Djokovic looked in trouble from the start against de Minaur, winning just one game and dropping the first set 6-1. Afterward, he admitted he “didn’t feel the ball.” He then struggled to match de Minaur’s pace early on.
But Djokovic quickly found his rhythm. The next two sets turned into a fierce battle, with both players trading strong shots. Despite some unforced errors, Djokovic’s serve fired six aces. That boost helped him take the second and third sets 6-4, 6-4, firmly turning the match in his favor. What a turnaround!
The post Novak Djokovic Finally Breaks Free of Roger Federer’s Wimbledon Curse in a Dominant Showdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.
