Wimbledon 2025 witnessed a startling spectacle on Centre Court as Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion and current world No. 6, faced off against Australia’s Alex de Minaur in a fourth-round clash that left fans and commentators alike in disbelief. The Serbian star, known for his resilience and dominance on grass, stumbled through a shockingly poor first set, losing 6-1 in just 31 minutes, a performance that prompted tennis legend John McEnroe to predict an immediate retirement if Djokovic’s form did not improve.
The opening set was a statistical nightmare for Djokovic. He committed 16 unforced errors compared to just eight winners and served only 48% of his first serves in. His second serve was even more vulnerable, winning a mere two of 11 points and marred by four double faults. Djokovic was broken three times—in the first, fifth, and seventh games—and failed to convert his sole break point opportunity in the second game. Such a lopsided set was unexpected from a player of Djokovic’s caliber, especially on the prestigious grass courts of Wimbledon.
De Minaur, though not flawless, capitalized on Djokovic’s struggles. The 26-year-old Aussie managed only 40% first-serve accuracy and had a slightly negative winner-to-error ratio, with four winners and five unforced errors, but his consistency and court coverage frustrated Djokovic throughout the set.
John McEnroe, providing commentary for the BBC, expressed his astonishment at Djokovic’s performance, calling it "incredible to see him play like this" and stating, "I can’t remember him playing a worse set than this—it’s been years, literally." McEnroe noted Djokovic appeared "disgusted with himself," a rare sight for the 24-time Grand Slam winner. The US tennis icon went further, warning that if Djokovic continued at this level for two more sets, he would "quit on the spot." When asked by fellow commentator Todd Woodbridge if he meant retirement in a career sense, McEnroe was clear: "I would predict [that Djokovic will retire], if he played like this for two more sets. I don’t think it’s gonna happen. I don’t think there’s a prayer that it’s going to happen. But this is incredible to see him play like this." Even Roger Federer, present in the VIP box, was seen removing his shades in apparent disbelief, underscoring the shock of witnessing such an uncharacteristic display from Djokovic.
Despite the disastrous first set, Djokovic showed signs of recovery in the second. He broke de Minaur in the opening game, a moment McEnroe said he would have "bet most of my life savings on Novak getting that first break in the second set." Nevertheless, de Minaur fought back to break Djokovic in a marathon second game, illustrating the continued tension and unpredictability of the match. McEnroe observed Djokovic’s ongoing difficulties with low balls and his serve percentage, which remained poor at just 54%, a figure almost unheard of for the Serbian maestro.
The crowd, initially stunned by the opening set, remained engaged as the battle unfolded, with Djokovic clinching the second set 6-4. Yet, the 38-year-old’s form was far from convincing, and questions lingered about his ability to sustain a comeback against the gritty Australian, who had already made a statement by dominating the early proceedings.
On social media platform X, tennis fans expressed their shock and theories about Djokovic’s uncharacteristic performance. Some suggested weather conditions, such as wind or sun, might have disrupted his rhythm, with one user commenting, "Djokovic is the least varied out of Big 3. Can't play in the wind, can't play in the sun, just give me homogenised courts with no outside interference." Others speculated that the presence of Roger Federer in the Centre Court VIP box added pressure, with one fan tweeting, "The pressure of playing in front of Roger Federer is clearly impacting Novak Djokovic at the moment!"
Adding to the intrigue, notable football personalities Sir Gareth Southgate and Sir David Beckham were also spotted attending Wimbledon, highlighting the event’s cross-sport appeal and the high-profile attention the tournament attracts.
As the match progresses, the stakes remain high. The winner of this fourth-round encounter will advance to the quarter-finals scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, keeping fans on edge as they await to see if Djokovic can recapture his trademark dominance or if de Minaur will continue to defy expectations and advance further in the prestigious Grand Slam.
This Wimbledon showdown serves as a vivid reminder of sport’s unpredictability, where even legends can falter and underdogs rise. Djokovic’s journey in this tournament is far from over, but the early signs have certainly raised eyebrows and sparked lively debate across the tennis world.
