By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, July 4, 2024
Novak Djokovic fought off British wild card Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 for his 18th trip to the Wimbledon third round.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Pausing for a swirling breeze to subside, Novak Djokovic refocused and tamed a tennis tempest.
British wild card Jacob Fearnley outplayed the Grand Slam king for stretches of the fourth set and was two points from forcing a fifth set.
Watch: Hurkacz's Diving Save Forces Him to Retire
Showing strong survival skills, Djokovic subdued major debutant Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 advancing to the Wimbledon third round for the 18th time in 19 SW19 appearances.
Though Djokovic built a two-set, one break lead and was on track for a two-hour win, fearless Fearnley proved to be a fighter.
The Edinburgh-born Fearnley lifted his level, the 37-year-old Serbian superstar, scattered some untimely errors and ultimately, Djokovic conceded he was fortunate to prevent a fifth set.
“First and foremost: huge congrats for Jacob for an amazing match today. He put a great effort, played very good tennis, he deserves a great rebound of applause,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “I haven’t really had a chance to see him play. Obviously, always an element of surprise and nothing to lose.
“Him playing at Wimbledon always going to be tough. Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass court quick surfaces so they know exactly how to play. Very windy day very challenging conditions and I thought he served very well it was very difficult to break his serve.
"He made me work definitely I was probably a bit lucky in the fourth not to go a break down maybe I could have won the match in three. I think all in all this match potentially deserved to get into a fifth the way we played particularly the way he played in the fourth.
“But I’m very glad it didn’t.”
The good news for Djokovic: Coming off arthroscopic surgery to repair his torn medial meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday, June 5th in Paris, the second-seeded Serbian continues to show a fast first step, sliding and moving effectively in all directions.
Wearing a gray sleeve over his right knee, Djokovic’s leg didn’t seem as much of an issue as much as his lack of recent match play.
A four-time all-American at TCU, Fearnley did not fret his moment on this stage and showed no fear of Djokovic. Fearnley fired 35 winners—nine more than the former world No. 1—but also nearly doubled Djokovic’s error output as he went after his shots. Fearnley showed sting on his serve and was able to hold his own in many of the running rallies with Djokovic as well.
"I'm really proud of my effort. Obviously a little bit disappointed to come up with a loss, but I was playing the greatest tennis player of all time on Centre Court, Wimbledon, so it's very difficult to be too disappointed," Fearnley told the media at Wimbledon. "I was just super grateful to have the opportunity to play on that court against that opponent. Yeah, I think proud is how I'm feeling right now."
Ultimately, the Grand Slam king was too tough for the TCU Horned Frog.
“Honestly I was feeling okay. I was feeling all right—I don’t want to be looking for any excuses for performances today,” Djokovic said. “Again credit to Jacob. On my side I think I should have done better in the third when I was a break up.
“Very swirly conditions… things can change really quick the momentum cna shift to your opponent's side. Physically I felt well can I be playing better and moving better? Yes. Absolutely. I hope as the tournament progresses each match and each day I will feel a little bit better. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
While he certainly could have been off the court in straight sets, this may be the type of physical test Djokovic needs as he scored a record-extending 372nd Grand Slam match win.
Continuing his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam crown, Djokovic will play Aussie Alexei Popyrin for a spot in the round of 16th—his third straight match against an unseeded opponent. Popyrin defeated 30th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Further, one of the most dangerous players in Djokovic’s bottom quarter of the draw is out.
No. 7-seeded Hubert Hurkacz injured his right knee diving for a passing shot in the tiebreaker and was forced to retire to 20-year-old Frenchman Arthurs Fils.
Flipping his toss a few times to find an optimal location amid a high sun, Djokovic floated a backhand drop-shot winner holding for 3-2.
Squinting into the sun on serve in the eighth game, Fearnley netted a drive to face a break point in the eighth game. Hitting low drives, Djokovic gave the Briton little to work with and when Fearnley netted a slice backhand Djokovic had the break and a 5-3 lead.
A biting body serve brought Djokovic triple set point. The second seed swept a clean crosscourt forehand strike—his ninth winner of the set—to close the opener.
Djokovic served 65 percent and was a perfect 15 for 15 on first serve in the first set.
The British wild card banged his second ace down the T holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Serving in the fourth game, Djokovic showed signs of stress barking at his box after a double fault.
The seven-time champion lost the range and rhythm on serve and put a backhand into net to face a break point. Sweeping aside stress, Djokovic curled an ace down the T to erase break point.
Navigating his toughest service game, Djokovic evened it after four games then elevated his play.
Tearing through 12 of 13 points, Djokovic charged out to a 5-3 lead.
Still, second-set closure wasn’t pristine. Djokovic dumped his second double fault to face a 15-30 hole.
Recalibrating serve, Djokovic ran off three points in a row, pumping his sixth ace for a two-set lead after just 75 minutes.
Despite flashes of frustration in the second set, Djokovic turned up the positive emotion midway through the third set.
Hammering consecutive diagonal forehands, Djokovic battered out the break for 3-2, erupting with a hearty “Come on!” while hurling a heavy uppercut in the air.
The bearded Briton drew applause from Centre Court fans and Djokovic spinning a short-angled backhand pass for a break point in the sixth game. Djokovic saved it but slapped a backhand into net dropping serve for the first time in the match as fans reigned cheers down on the home hero.
Looping an exceptional lob winner that caused son Stefan to leap out of his seat and applaud Djokovic earned break points in the ninth game. Fearnley fended off the first then blocked a backhand angle volley to save the second break point, eventually holding.
The stubborn Brit tested the US Open champion in a rapid-fire net exchange to earn a break and set point in the 12th game.
Pushing the Grand Slam king back with a crackling return, Fearnley incited a roar from Centre Court fans as Djokovic sailed a forehand off his backfoot.
Remarkably just 48 hours after his first Tour-level win, in just his third Tour-level match and in his first-ever match against a Top 50-ranked opponent, Fearnley stunned the 24-time Grand Slam champion snatching away the third set from a break down.
Empowered by his third-set rally, the wild card was out–playing the Grand Slam wins leader in the early stages of the fourth set.
When Djokovic double-faulted, he was down double break point in the sixth game. Playing primarily down the middle, Djokovic drew the error to erase the first break point.
On the second break point, Djokovic showed guts with a 112 mph serve, a pair of lunging volleys and angled smash to draw even at deuce.
Pulling the string on a forehand drop shot, Djokovic raced up to the dropper reply and bunted a pass holding for 3-all in the fourth set.
Both men are quick around the court and showed it in a drop-shot duel. Testing that surgically-repaired knee, Djokovic showed a burst from inside the service box flick a winner from a ball nearly behind him. That shot helped him navigate a trying hold to even the fourth set after eight games.
The all-American’s poise playing on the game’s greatest stage against the champion, who has won Wimbledon in four of his last five appearances at SW19 was quite impressive. Fearnley fired his 11th ace and forehand winner to go up 5-4.
The former No. 1 was two points from a fifth set serving at 15-30, but Djokovic did not blink.
Slamming an ace down the T and serve winner carried the Serbian through to hold for 5-all.
Digging in with some determined defense, Djokovic drained errors to earn break point in the 11th game. After two hours and 55 minutes of mainly quality play, Fearnley double-faulted away the crucial break and a 6-5 lead.
One final forehand down the line ended what became a bit of an adventure match for Djokovic in three hours.