Novak Djokovic resumed his Wimbledon journey on Monday afternoon after the postponement of his fourth-round match against Hubert Hurkacz, Novak Djokovic secured a victory over Hubert Hurkacz
Which was interrupted by the tournament’s curfew the previous day. Djokovic had been leading by two sets to love before the match was halted. However, he showcased patience and determination in the face of Hurkacz’s impressive serving and ultimately emerged victorious with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4 win, securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
Following his win, Novak Djokovic has reached his 14th Wimbledon quarter-finals, tying Jimmy Connors for second place on the all-time list. Reflecting on the match, Djokovic acknowledged that it was a highly contested battle and acknowledged that it could have turned out differently. He noted that Hubert Hurkacz had his opportunities, especially in the first-set tiebreaker. Djokovic credited his success to being able to read Hurkacz’s serve in crucial moments, particularly in the fourth set where he managed to secure a vital break, which ultimately played a key role in his victory.
Novak Djokovic’s impressive record at Wimbledon continues to solidify, as he now stands as the second player with the most quarter-final appearances at the tournament, trailing only Roger Federer, who has reached the last eight 18 times. Djokovic’s remarkable 32-match winning streak at Wimbledon places him in third position on the all-time list, surpassing Pete Sampras and trailing only Bjorn Borg and Federer.
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In the quarter-finals, Djokovic will face Andrey Rublev, who secured a hard-fought victory against Alexander Bublik with a score of 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-7(5), 6-4. Rublev will enter the match well-rested, having enjoyed a day off before the upcoming clash with Djokovic.
Despite leaving Centre Court with a smile on Sunday night, Hubert Hurkacz had much to reflect upon. Although he showcased exceptional serving skills throughout the opening set and even had three set points in the tie-break, the pressure of facing Novak Djokovic seemed to overwhelm him. On his third set point, Hurkacz had an opportunity to close the point with an easy, short forehand, but unfortunately, he dumped it into the net. Two unforced errors later, Djokovic claimed the set. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Djokovic narrowly winning another tight tie-break before the match was interrupted by the curfew.
When they returned to the court on the following day, with the same balls but under an open roof, the dynamics seemed to shift. Hurkacz, perhaps feeling less pressure with a two-set deficit, began to play with more freedom and displayed a relaxed demeanor.
During the third set, Hubert Hurkacz continued to serve exceptionally well, attacking aggressively after his serves and frequently advancing towards the net. In contrast, Novak Djokovic encountered difficulties, struggling with his game and becoming increasingly frustrated as his unforced errors accumulated. Hurkacz capitalized on the opportunity and made his move when leading 6-5 in the set. He unleashed a powerful forehand winner down the line, securing two set points at 15-40. This time, Hurkacz remained composed and confidently executed a winning crosscourt forehand, clinching the set. Notably, an astonishing 85% of his serves found the mark, and he only dropped three points on his serve throughout the set.
