Novak Djokovic reaches into his bag of tricks to see off plucky Alex de Minaur, but needs to find a higher level for tougher battles at Wimbledon
An hour into his fourth-round encounter against Alex de Minaur at Wimbledon on Monday, Novak Djokovic’s tournament had suddenly gone off script.A week of serenity had prevailed for the seven-time champion at the start of this year’s Championships. He had basked in the validation of the Centre Court crowd that had long kept the 24-time Major winner at an arm’s length. He had dominated three opponents so commandingly that talk of another title run – which would potentially bring his Wimbledon count to eight, equalling Roger Federer’s all-time record – had begun buzzing.
Yet, there was the Serb: lying flat on his back in frustration at being unable to connect with a volley, remonstrating with the wind for conspiring against him and his carefully-crafted angles, shouting at his box after holdi...
