Wimbledon 2023: Andrey Rublev will need more miracle shots to beat defending champion Novak Djokovic

It is quite probable that Andrey Rublev played the shot of Wimbledon 2023 during his epic round four win over Alexander Bublik on Sunday afternoon – but now he needs to go one better and produce the match of his life to stand any chance of upsetting four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic. The Russian had never ventured beyond round four in his previous three main draw appearances in SW19 but his rollercoaster, five-set success over the enigmatic Bublik in the Centre Court opener on Day 7 means he has now reached this stage at each Grand Slam tournament.

Ad The 25-year-old is one of just 11 active players on the ATP tour to make the quarter finals at all of the majors and it was apt that such a magnificent piece of improvisation led him to achieve the feat. WimbledonWimbledon 2023: Day 9 Order of Play and schedule – When are Djokovic, Swiatek and Pegula playing?15 HOURS AGO It was a jaw-dropping moment, one that will remain in the memory of everyone fortunate to have witnessed it live inside Centre Court, a fitting arena Djokovic recently described as «the holy grail, the temple of tennis.» After a pulsating rally, Bublik threw everything into a quite sensational backhand up the line at 5-4 and 30-15 down in the deciding set, letting out a guttural, celebratory scream as he put every last ounce of energy, hope and defiance into the shot.

Ninety-nine times out of 100 it would have been a clean winner given its pace and trajectory — but not on this occasion. Somehow Rublev scrambled to his right, deep behind his baseline, to leap into a dive with the most miraculous of reactions while still managing to redirect an absurd and preposterous forehand winner into the open court.