Wimbledon 2024: Novak Djokovic survives another scare to beat Alexei Popyrin and advance into fourth round
Updated 07/07/2024 at 09:21 GMT+1
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic was once again made to work for the second match in a row, but has done enough to advance to the round of 16 at Wimbledon. Djokovic came from a set down to beat Alexei Popyrin 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3). The 24-time Grand Slam winner praised his opponent for pushing him in the match, but was ultimately proud with how he came back to win.
Wimbledon Day 6 highlights: Djokovic battles through as Putintseva stuns world No. 1 Swiatek
Video credit: SNTV
Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to beat Alexei Popyrin and advance into the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The world No. 2 was not at his best, but overcame a slow start and a valiant challenge from Popyrin to claim the match 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3).
Popyrin, the Australian world No. 47, claimed the first break of the match in the seventh game thanks to a superb passing shot on his way to winning the first set.
Djokovic did not look close to breaking Popyrin’s serve until the fourth game of the second set, when he capitalised on his opponent’s double faults and unforced errors.
It proved to be a catalyst for the 24-time Grand Slam winner, as he began to step it up to win the second and third sets fairly comfortably.
He was made to work harder in the fourth by the big-serving Popyrin, but ultimately took care of business in what he called “one of the best tie-breaks I’ve played this year”.
“It was another tough match,” Djokovic, who also needed four sets to beat Jacob Fearnley in the second round, said on Centre Court after his win.
Djokovic continued: “I wasn’t expecting anything less than what I experienced on the court today from Alexei. I knew he was going to come into the match with confidence and a lot of self-belief. He was close to winning that match we played in Australia earlier this year. With that serve and powerful forehand, he’s dangerous on any surface.
“I watched him play the first couple rounds and I knew he was in-form and was going to obviously come out on the court believing he could win. That’s how he started. He was the better player for the first set, and then I stepped it up. I think I played a really good second and third.
“Fourth was really anybody’s game. He was serving very well with a lot of accuracy and a lot of speed. It was very difficult to read his serve in the fourth … Just a really challenging match today I think mentally as well to hang in there.
"[I was] not allowed to have big concentration lapses. I think I’ve done well in that regard. I think it reflected positively in the tie-break that was one of the best tie-breaks I’ve played this year for sure.”
- 'I was like a fire' - Putintseva stuns Swiatek to book place in fourth round
- Raducanu pulls out of doubles match with Murray meaning Scot has likely played last Wimbledon game
Djokovic, who continues to wear a knee brace following surgery prior to the tournament, said his physical condition has improved with every match.
“I think each match it’s getting better," the Serbian said. "My feeling of movement, confidence in my movement particularly in the extreme balls, you know, reaching, sliding, I definitely felt better today than I have in the second round match.
"Hopefully the direction and trajectory will keep going in a positive way. As the tournament progresses, each match I will feel better. Let’s see what happens in the next one.”
Djokovic will next face Holger Rune in the last 16, after the Danish No. 15 seed beat Quentin Halys of France in five sets.
- - -
Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 13 and 14, on discovery+
Related Matches
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2229.png)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/6944.png)
6
3
4
63
4
6
6
77
Advertisement
Advertisement