Wimbledon 2019: Novak Djokovic beats David Goffin in straight sets to reach semi-finals

The defending Wimbledon champion is through to his ninth semi-final

Some tennis players would panic having lost their service game in the opening set of a Wimbledon quarter-final on the old Elizabethan theatre that is Centre Court. But Novak Djokovic is not just some player. Instead, he elected to wrap a towel around his head, returning from the changeover to win the next ten games en route to yet another commanding victory in straight sets: 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

This was supposed to be Djokovic’s hardest match so far at this year's Championships. It ended up being his easiest. After such a promising start Goffin’s early break of serve had at first appeared thrillingly ominous. Instead, he had succeeded only in tweaking the tiger’s tail.

“He started well,” Djokovic conceded upon leaving the court. “He was dictating the play from the baseline. And things could have gone a different way — who knows what the match would have looked like if I had lost the first set. But I was very pleased with the second and third.”

Djokovic had appeared a little tense in the opening exchanges, which he allowed the squat Goffin to dominate with his powerful hitting. But having fought back to win a fiercely competitive opening set in 48-minutes, the remainder of the match took on the feel of an exhibition. Djokovic rattled through the second set in a fraction over half an hour, losing just two more games to secure safe passage to his ninth Wimbledon semi-final.

Intriguingly enough, in their most recent matches, Roger Federer lost to Kei Nishikori, Rafael Nadal lost to Sam Querrey and Djokovic lost to Goffin. But none of those were Grand Slam matches. Elsewhere on the ATP Tour, Goffin may have dug-in during that pivotal first set and scrapped his way to a two or three set victory. Not here. And by the time he double-faulted to gift Djokovic yet another break for 3-1 in the third, the writing was on the wall.

Djokovic has now played five matches to reach the final four. He has dropped only one set to get there. Last year’s champion already looks a good bet to defend his crown.

“I had a tough match in the third round. Other than that, I've won in straight sets and played really well throughout the tournament,” he added. “It's exactly what I wanted and hopefully I can go in the right direction in the semis as well.”

He is through to face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Guido Pella and within sight of a sixth Wimbledon final. There, he will likely face either Federer or Nadal, providing they emerge through their respective quarter-final matches similarly unscathed.