LONDON: Novak Djokovic’s celebration after finishing off Andrey Rublev in a high-octane Wimbledon quarter-final said it all on Tuesday. The scoreline may look comfortable enough after the 36-year-old fought back from losing the first set to win 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 — his 33rd successive victory at Wimbledon. But the seven-time champion knew he had been in a battle against the inspired seventh seed. “I think today he played terrific tennis,” Djokovic said of an opponent he thrashed en route to winning the Australian Open at the start of the year. He was putting a lot of pressure, playing very quick, standing close to the line and trying to push me back. It was like a dogfight, to be honest. Some points in the match were so long and exhausting. Those games at the end of the third set where basically the match was decided. I felt huge relief when I won the third set.” Djokovic had looked in control but the 10th game of the second set, spanning 15 minutes and including some spellbinding rallies, saw him save three break points and need five set points before finally sealing the set. Another feisty encounter will be in store on Friday when Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and fifth in a row, faces Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner.