Seven-times champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off a slow start to power past unseeded Australian Alexei Popyrin 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3) and into the Wimbledon fourth round on Saturday. The Serb’s bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title looked under threat when Popyrin took a 4-3 lead with a blistering crosscourt forehand winner and sealed the opening set with a second-serve ace.
“It was another tough match. I didn’t expect anything less than what we experienced on the court today from Alexei,” said Djokovic, who was also taken to four sets by Popyrin at this year’s Australian Open.
“I know he was going to come to the match with confidence, a lot of self-belief. He was close to winning (when we played) in Australia earlier this year.
“With that serve and powerful forehand, he’s dangerous on any surface.”
Djokovic was quickly back to his best and normal service was resumed. Appearing rejuvenated after the roof was closed, Djokovic went 4-1 up in the second set, when fans erupted on Centre Court as news trickled through that England had beaten Switzerland to make the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The amused second seed simulated a penalty kick that Popyrin pretended to save, to the delight of fans.
Djokovic had little trouble in the second and third sets, but faced more resistance in the fourth as Popyrin dug deep in search of his first win in the pair’s third meeting, saving three break points to hold in the 11th game.
After ensuring a tiebreak, however, Djokovic switched on the after-burners to close out the win, finishing with a fiery serve that Popyrin could only send into the net. Up next for Djokovic is 15th seed Holger Rune, who advanced after a five-set marathon against Quentin Halys.
On the other hand, Elena Rybakina overpowered former world number one Caroline Wozniacki to blast her way into the Wimbledon fourth round on Saturday, dropping just one game in a brutal display. The opening set went by in a flash as Rybakina came out firing on all cylinders and only a short mid-match break while the Court One roof was slid across slowed her down.
Playing at the grass court major for the first time in five years after coming out of retirement following the birth of her two children, Wozniacki offered a little more resistance when play resumed. But the 33-year-old never looked like turning the tide against the 2022 champion. The Moscow-born Kazakh fired down nine aces and struck 36 winners in 57 minutes of one-sided action and appears to have her eyes fixed firmly on a second Wimbledon title.