NOVAK Djokovic came from a set down to beat Alexei Popyrin and advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024.
Despite not being at his best, Djokovic overcame a slow start and a valiant challenge from Popyrin to win the match 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3), Sunday (7/7).
Djokovic 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 came close to breaking Popyrin’s serve until the fourth game of the second set, when he capitalized on a double fault and an unforced error by his opponent.
That proved to be a catalyst for the 24-time Grand Slam winner, as he began to improve his ability to win the second and third sets quite comfortably.
He was made to work harder in the fourth set by a big-serving Popyrin, but eventually prevailed in what he called “one of the best tie-breaks I’ve played this year”.
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“It was another tough match. I wouldn’t expect anything less than what we had on court today from Alexei,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by ATP.
“I know he’s going to come into this game with confidence, with a lot of belief. He almost won the game we played once morest each other in Australia earlier this year,” he added.
The match was exciting as Popyrin served at 1-4, 30/30 in the second set.
A roar of cheers might be heard throughout the All England Club, where many were simultaneously following the England men’s national football team in their Euro 2024 quarter-final penalty shootout once morest Switzerland.
As the crowd suddenly cheered England’s victory, Djokovic imitated taking a penalty kick into the net, while Popyrin jokingly pretended to be the goalkeeper. (Dhk/Z-7)
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