Novak Djokovic Reaches 50th Grand Slam Quarterfinal

Novak Djokovic reached his 50th Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday. Djokovic defeated Cristian Garin: 6-2, 6-4. 6-2.

Djokovic became the fifth player to reach 50 Grand Slam quarterfinals. He joins Roger Ferderer (57, entering Monday’s match), Chris Evert (54), Serena Williams (54) and Martina Navratilova (53). It was also his 12th quarterfinal berth at Wimbledon, which ties him with Arthur Gore for third place on the men’s all-time list, behind Ferderer’s 18 and Jimmy Connors‘ 14.

“It’s a privilege to break records in the sport that I truly love,” Djokovic said. “I’m devoted to this sport as much as I think anybody out there on the tour. I just try to do my best.”

The two-time defending Wimbledon champion will join a parade of newcomers in the final eight. First-timers include Canadian Denis Shapovalov, Italian Matteo Berrettini, Hungarian Marton Fucsovics and Russian Karen Khachanov. Bizarrely enough, Khachanov won the fifth set to beat American Sebastian Korda on his 21st birthday.

The Serbian tennis player will be looking for his sixth Wimbledon title and a record-tying 20th Grand Slam trophy. He will face Fucsovics on Wednesday.

Fucsovics became the first Hungarian man since 1981 to reach the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam. He also became the first Hungarian to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals since Jozsef Asboth in 1948.

Fucsovics rallied back to defeat the Russian Andrey Rublev on Monday: 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3. It was a sweet moment for the Hungarian tennis player because Rublev eliminated him in four straight tournaments earlier this season.

Djokovic will play Fuscovics on Wednesday in the highly anticipated quarterfinals match.

Article by Allan Perez