Djokovic says he’s ‘favorite’ to win Wimbledon

LONDON: Novak Djokovic said he considers himself “favorite” to lift this year’s Wimbledon title even if it makes him sound “arrogant.”

The Serb star reached his 12th Wimbledon semifinal and record-equalling 46th at the Grand Slams with a four-set victory over Andrey Rublev on Tuesday.

Djokovic, chasing an eighth title at the All England Club and 24th career major, came through 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 and will face Italy’s Jannik Sinner for a place in the final.

He has now reached as many semifinals at the Slams as the retired Roger Federer.

“I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself favorite,” said Djokovic.

“Judging by the results I had in my career here, the last four times at Wimbledon that I won, so I do consider myself favorite, yes.”

The 36-year-old was playing in his 400th Grand Slam match on Tuesday and insisted he was enjoying being the man to beat.

“I love it. Any player wants to be in the position where all the other players want to beat you,” he said after preserving his record of not being defeated on Center Court since 2013.

“The pressure never goes away every time I come on court.

“They want to get a scalp and the win — but it ain’t happening!“

Rublev, the world number seven, has now lost all eight quarter-finals he has played at the majors.

“I had these little chances but I didn’t make them. He made them. That’s why he’s Novak, one of the greatest players in history,” he said.

Despite Djokovic’s confidence, world No. 1 and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz is still in the tournament and plays his quarterfinal against fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune on Wednesday.

Daniil Medvedev, who shattered Djokovic’s bid for his first calendar Grand Slam in the US Open final in 2021,