He said: “Novak looks for more motivation in those things … He will single out that one person [in the crowd] to find that extra motivation. My advice to anyone going up against Novak in the future in the crowd, if you don’t want Novak to win, be as quiet as possible.

“He is a different type of athlete. I think we found a time ago that he wasn’t human and we are still trying to figure out what he is. He has the best team around him in his recovery. He is one of the most professional players to ever play the game – no-one doubts that. He is reaping the rewards now. His career is over 20 years and he is still one of the best in the world. If one of the young guys can dethrone him, I am waiting for it.”

In Kyrgios’s opinion, a break from the match court is exactly what Djokovic needs as he builds his physical resilience after recent surgery on a torn knee meniscus.

Kyrgios said: “When you are playing best-of-five [sets], anytime you can get a day off, especially at his age, 37, and with that knee, I think this is the best thing for him. It is funny. At the start of the Championships there were so many question marks, people saying he couldn’t win it. And now he comes into the semi-final as probably the favourite.

“I don’t think you should doubt this man,” added Kyrgios, who has been helping Djokovic prepare for matches this week as a hitting partner. “Right now, he looks to be probably the favourite in my eyes … After that [fourth round] match against Holger Rune, he is playing and moving the best I have ever seen him.”

Djokovic now faces a semi-final against Lorenzo Musetti, an elegant Italian whom he has beaten five times in their six previous meetings. The bad news for his remaining opponents is that, once he reaches the later part of this tournament, he usually goes on to win.

In 14 Wimbledon matches after the quarter-final stage since 2013 – the year Andy Murray stopped him in the final – Djokovic’s only loss has come against Carlos Alcaraz in last summer’s showpiece.

De Minaur, the ninth seed, informed the media he was “devastated” to have to withdraw because of a hip injury.

I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against [Arthur] Fils and got a scan yesterday which confirmed the injury,” said the Australian. “I was at high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court.”

The Australian had joked after his win over Fils about being an “honorary Brit” at Wimbledon, given his girlfriend is current British No 1 Katie Boulter.