A Comeback With a Special Tribute

Novak Djokovic once again showed why he’s one of the greatest in tennis history. The Serbian overcame a rough start to defeat Alex de Miñaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a tough round of 16 battle at Wimbledon, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. But the highlight came when he paid tribute to Roger Federer, who was watching from the Royal Box.

“I wish I had the serve and volley of that gentleman over there,” said Djokovic, pointing at Federer, blending humor and humility in his tribute. The moment quickly went viral, showing the deep admiration he holds for the Swiss legend, an eight-time Wimbledon champion.

Federer Returns Home, Djokovic Breaks the Curse

Roger Federer has made it a tradition to attend Wimbledon since his retirement in 2022. This year, he returned with his wife Mirka, watching stars like Jannik Sinner, Mirra Andreeva, and Djokovic himself.

The Serbian admitted it was the first time he’d won a match with Federer in attendance. “I think I broke the curse,” he joked after the victory. Beyond the laughs, Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty of the match: “It was very windy. He managed the conditions better, especially from the baseline. I didn’t feel the ball well, but I’m grateful I turned it around.”

At 38, Djokovic became just the third player to reach this stage of the tournament at that age or older, joining legends like Ken Rosewall and Federer.

What’s Next at Wimbledon

Up next, Djokovic will face Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals. The young Italian is riding high after defeating Marin Cilic and will look to challenge the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Meanwhile, the connection between the sport’s past and present remains alive in London. The brief yet powerful moment between two icons—Federer and Djokovic—will go down as one of the most memorable scenes of this year’s Wimbledon.