- Novak Djokovic is set to drop a set against Briton Jacob Fearnley en route to the third round at Wimbledon.
- With Hubert Hurkacz, the third best player in the top 10 exits in dramatic fashion on the 4th day of the tournament.
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 11) was surprised to lose to Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (ATP 87).
In the first two series it was for Novak Djokovic (ATP 2) everything according to plan. The seven-time Wimbledon champion controlled the match against British wild card holder Jacob Fearnley without playing anywhere near the limit. Even at the start of the third round, Djokovic seemed to have everything under control as he headed for a break.
But Fearnley’s immediate break upset the world number 2. As Britain, ranked 277th, had a goal at the same time, Fearnley earned the third set after another break to make it 7:5.
The blatant underdog immediately brought the momentum and sometimes even sniffed at the equalizer of the set. Although Fearnley was unable to convert his two break points at 3:2, Djokovic made the decisive service change to make it 6:5 on his only chance. Shortly after that the game was over. Djokovic’s next opponent is Australian Alexei Popyrin (ATP 47).
Stop came back Hurkacz suddenly
It was a very bitter day Hubert Hurkacz (ATP 7). In the duel with the conqueror Stricker, Arthur Fils (ATP 34), the Pole could not find a way to control the game for a long time. The Frenchman was surprisingly ahead 2-0 and was already on the road to victory. But in the third round, Hurkacz’s knot broke.
The world number 7 was suddenly ahead with the server, he got the 3rd round and they also had a break in the 4th set. Hurkacz regained the lead, forcing a tiebreak decision – and that’s where things got dramatic. At the point to make it 8:7, which the great Pole confirmed with a dive on the net, Hurkacz hurt his right leg. The favorite tried again after a minute of treatment, but gave up after making Fils 9:8.
Tsitsipas has to travel home
Emil Ruusuvuori provided the surprise of the day. The world number 87 from Finland entered Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 11) best player from the tournament. Ruusuvuori laid the foundation for the exploit in the first two rounds, winning both of them in very close counties. In the second short decider, the challenger even had to defend 3 set points from Tsitsipas before winning the tiebreak 12:10.
Although the favorites Tsitsipas came close again when they won the 3rd round, a break to 4:2 in the 4th set gave the preliminary decision in favor of Ruusuvuori. After 2:47 hours the surprise was perfect.
Zverev makes short work of him
Showed no weakness Alexander Zverev. The German number 4 needed only 94 minutes to eliminate the American Marcos Giron (ATP 46) 6:2, 6:1, 6:4. Zverev already needed less than 2 hours for his three-set victory in the opening round against Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP/ATP 64).
In round 3, Zverev faces a local. Surprisingly Cameron Norrie (ATP 42) held the lead in 3 sets in the all-British duel with the in-form Jack Draper (ATP 28).