London. Serbian Novak Djokovic, seven-time world champion, overcame a gradual begin to beat Australian Alexei Popyrin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6(3) and attain the fourth spherical of Wimbledon.
The Serb’s bid for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam title got here underneath risk when Popyrin moved 4-3 forward with a forehand crosscourt winner and closed out the primary set with a second-serve ace.
“It was one other robust match. I anticipated nothing much less from Alexei than what we noticed on court docket right this moment,” mentioned Djokovic, who additionally performed 4 units with Popyrin at this yr’s Australian Open.
“I do know he was going to come back into the match with confidence, with numerous perception in himself. He was near profitable (once we performed) in Australia initially of the yr,” he mentioned. “Along with his serve and his highly effective forehand, he’s harmful on any floor.”
Djokovic, who appeared rejuvenated after the roof closed, raced to a 4-1 lead within the second set as followers erupted on Centre Court docket on the information that England had crushed Switzerland and superior to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The second seed, amused, simulated a penalty that Popyrin pretended to avoid wasting, to the delight of the followers.
Djokovic had no issues within the second and third units however discovered extra resistance within the fourth, when Popyrin went all out in the hunt for his first win of their third assembly, saving three break factors to carry within the eleventh recreation.
Nevertheless, after securing the tie-break, Djokovic sealed his victory with a strong serve that Popyrin might solely ship into the web.
“I performed properly within the second and third units, and the fourth was inside anybody’s attain,” Djokovic added.
Djokovic arrived at Wimbledon weeks after present process surgical procedure on his proper knee, having injured it on the French Open, however mentioned he was enhancing with every match.
Djokovic’s subsequent opponent can be fifteenth seed Holger Rune of Denmark, who superior after a marathon five-set match in opposition to Frenchman Quentin Halys, profitable 1-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(4) and 6-1.
Earlier, German Alexander Zverev defeated British Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(15) and Russian Daniil Medvedev defeated German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3).
In the meantime, Chilean Alejandro Tabilo was defeated by American Taylor Fritz 7-6(3), 6-3 and 7-5, whereas Argentine Francisco Comesaña fell to Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(3) and 6-3.
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– 2024-07-07 09:42:22
