“It ain’t taking place!”

Novak Djokovic is aware of a goal is on his again at this yr’s Wimbledon, the place he’s chasing a record-extending twenty fourth main title. Following Tuesday’s quarter-final victory towards Andrey Rublev, the Serbian delivered a punchline, “It ain’t taking place!” in his on-court interview, when requested about his fellow opponents goal to cease his run on the season’s third main.

The World No. 2 doubled down on his assertion in his post-match press convention.

“I do not need to sound conceited, however after all I’d think about myself the favorite,” Djokovic mentioned. “Judging with the outcomes I had in my profession right here, earlier 4 events of Wimbledon that I gained, I do think about [myself] the favorite.”

Djokovic will subsequent compete in his forty sixth main semi-final Friday towards Italian Jannik Sinner. Will probably be the 21-year-old’s maiden main semi-final, however he may have cause to consider he will be the one to upset the seven-time champion. Final yr, Sinner led Djokovic two-sets-to-love at Wimbledon earlier than the Belgrade-native stormed again to win.

Djokovic, who may tie Roger Federer at eight Wimbledon crowns this fortnight, has not misplaced on Centre Court docket because the 2013 remaining. Djokovic is on a 33-match profitable streak at The All England Membership, courting again to his quarter-final retirement in 2017. The final time Djokovic misplaced a accomplished match at Wimbledon was in 2016, when he fell to Sam Querrey within the third spherical.

Though the Serbian has loved nice success at The Championships, not yearly is similar. The 94-time tour-level titlist acknowledged that he’s not sliding on the grass as a lot this yr.

“I feel because the match goes on, I feel us gamers, we really feel extra snug shifting on the grass. So for a few of us, like Sinner, for instance, and [Carlos] Alcaraz, they like to slip. I feel you grow to be extra snug going for the slide,” Djokovic mentioned. “Perhaps originally you’re feeling like strolling on eggs a little bit bit as a result of the grass can be extra slippery originally, notably when you play indoors underneath the roof.

“I feel that that is the least that I used to be sliding on grass ever, to be trustworthy. Whether or not that is acutely aware or unconscious, I am not likely positive. I am nonetheless but making an attempt to determine. Generally sliding is just not the best choice on grass. Generally it’s. It simply will depend on the ball and the scenario.”

A technique or one other, Djokovic has made all the best changes this fortnight. After surviving a serving barrage from Hubert Hurkacz throughout two days within the fourth spherical, Djokovic was compelled to rally from a set down Tuesday towards Rublev. The second seed prolonged his 4-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head collection lead towards Rublev, who Djokovic has overwhelmed three consecutive instances, together with at this yr’s Australian Open. However the Serbian feels that the World No. 7 introduced a brand new degree to SW19.

“It was like a dogfight,” Djokovic mentioned. “At some factors of the match have been so lengthy and exhausting. These video games on the finish of the third set [is] the place mainly the match was determined. I felt like big reduction once I gained the third set, and within the fourth once more made the essential break and held my nerves until the top. For positive the very best quality tennis Rublev has performed that I’ve confronted him within the earlier matches in Grand Slams.”