Elina Svitolina, an unexpected wildcard entry, delivered a stunning upset by defeating top seed Iga Swiatek, securing her place in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Svitolina’s victory sets up an intriguing clash against Marketa Vondrousova, who also caused an upset with her recent triumph.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, sporting white tennis shoes embellished with a green “23” at the heel, advanced to the quarterfinals, potentially needing new shoes if he continues his winning streak.
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Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion and holder of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, has the chance to add to his remarkable record by winning three more matches at the All England Club. If successful, Djokovic could claim another Grand Slam victory on Sunday, July 16.
In a thrilling match, Svitolina, who made a remarkable return to the WTA tour in April after giving birth to her daughter in October, emerged triumphant with a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 win over Swiatek, who struggled with her forehand. Svitolina’s exceptional performance brings her one step closer to capturing her maiden Wimbledon title.
Svitolina’s next challenge will be against unseeded Czech player Marketa Vondrousova, who overcame American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in a hard-fought battle, concluding with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory.
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This victory holds immense significance for Svitolina, who continues to demonstrate unwavering determination since returning from maternity leave. With each match, she inches closer to fulfilling her dream of winning the Wimbledon championship.
On the men’s side, Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 14th time after a demanding match against Hubert Hurkacz.
The thrilling encounter, which began on July 9 on Centre Court, concluded with Djokovic prevailing 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4. His next opponent in the quest for a semifinal berth will be Andrey Rublev.
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Djokovic recently clinched his record-breaking 23rd major title at the French Open and is aiming to add to his collection following his Australian Open triumph earlier this year. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Djokovic expressed his satisfaction, calling it a “cool” and “historic achievement.”
With 23 major titles, Djokovic has surpassed tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, tying with Serena Williams. Should he emerge victorious on Sunday, he would equal Margaret Court’s all-time record.
The Wimbledon finals promise to be a historic event as Djokovic aims to etch his name into the annals of tennis history.
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