No enjoyment as Djokovic relieved after 'ugly' Wimbledon win

Novak Djokovic admitted to feeling relieved rather than satisfied after grinding out a tough four-set victory against Roman Safiullin to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The Serbian star described the win as "ugly," acknowledging his struggle to find his top game on Centre Court throughout the match.

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To be honest, I haven't felt really great on the court, so I was relieved to get out of it and get a win.

Djokovic saved set points in a tight opening set before eventually prevailing against the 132nd-ranked Russian qualifier. He confessed that "satisfaction and enjoyment weren't part of today's win," despite being happy to advance. The constant pressure from Safiullin, Djokovic explained, contributed to his inability to perform at his desired level.

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Satisfaction and enjoyment weren't part of today's win. Of course, I'm relieved and happy to win it, but I haven't enjoyed it. Hopefully the next match will be better in that sense.

This 106th Wimbledon match victory allowed Djokovic to surpass Roger Federer's all-time men's singles match-wins record at the tournament. However, the 39-year-old downplayed the significance of this achievement, stating it was "insignificant" to him at the moment. His primary focus remains on recovering his physical condition, which he noted requires more time and attention than in previous years due to the demands on his body.

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I struggled to find the game, the desired level I'm looking for, that I had, I think, in the second round ... but a win is a win, even if you win ugly. Hopefully I can build from this.

Looking ahead, Djokovic aims to build on this win, acknowledging that difficult matches are part of the journey to a championship. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, he finds it challenging to accept performances that fall short of his high standards. He emphasized the importance of recovery and utilizing various wellness technologies to maintain his edge, despite the time commitment involved.

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That's really quite insignificant to me at the moment.