Novak Djokovic apologised to Annabel Croft during his on-court interview after defeating Roman Safiullin in four sets at Wimbledon, before turning the tables on the BBC pundit by asking if she could relate to his moments of frustration.
Djokovic's Apology and Awkward Exchange
The 39-year-old Serb had just secured his place in the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over the Russian qualifier. During the interview, Croft asked Djokovic about his concentration and whether his mind ever wanders during matches. Djokovic responded by apologising for his outbursts on court, saying, "And the outbursts as well... The outbursts, you know, the meltdowns. I had a few of those today as well. I apologise."
He then turned to Croft, a former British No. 1, and asked if she could relate. "You played back in the days, you remember. Our mind wanders all the time [and it's] very hard to keep it in the present moment. Whoever does that is a winner," Djokovic added. Croft initially seemed uncertain about what he was asking, creating a slightly awkward moment.
Match Drama and Warning
The match was not without controversy, as Djokovic received a warning for his language following a difficult moment at the start of the fourth set. Despite the setback, he managed to regroup and close out the match. Reflecting on the victory, Djokovic described it as "Another hard-fought win." He praised Safiullin, saying, "Roman started very well, very aggressive, I didn't feel maybe so comfortable from the back of the court, I knew it was going to be a challenge staying in the rally with him."
Djokovic admitted he rarely feels inferior from the baseline, but Safiullin's aggressive play forced him to adapt. "I don't get to feel inferior from the back of the court with too many players throughout my career. Today it was one of those days when I didn't want to stay in the rally for too long," he said. "So I had to mix things up and it worked. At some moments it worked and some it didn't but in the end I found the accuracy and precision with the first serve that really got me out of trouble in the fourth."
Looking Ahead
When asked about his campaign at SW19, Djokovic responded, "Survive to thrive, that's how I feel. So hopefully the thriving part is coming." The seven-time Wimbledon champion will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the quarter-finals as he bids for a record-equalling eighth title.
