LONDON– Novak Djokovic shook off a wobble midway through his clash with big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz to book his Wimbledon quarter-final berth on Monday while fellow defending champion Elena Rybakina advanced after an injury to Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev went through to the last eight for the first time after ailing Czech Jiri Lehecka pulled up with a right foot injury while trailing 6-4 6-2 before fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned by Christopher Eubanks.
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Holder Djokovic resumed his clash with Hurkacz having edged two tiebreaks late on Sunday before the tournament’s strict 11 p.m. curfew and the 36-year-old dropped his first set of the tournament before sealing a 7-6(6) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 victory.
“He put up a great performance,” said a relieved Djokovic, who withstood a barrage of booming aces from Hurkacz – 33 in total – to remain on course for his fifth straight Wimbledon title and a record-equalling eighth overall.
“I don’t recall the last time I felt this miserable on returning games to be honest, because of his incredibly accurate and powerful serve.
“I mean he’s got one of the best serves in the world and it’s so difficult to read it.”
Second seed Djokovic will hope his 101st match at Wimbledon – against seventh-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in the last eight – will mark a return to vintage form.
Rybakina, meanwhile, had an easier route into the quarter-finals after her Brazilian opponent retired with a back injury while trailing the third seed 4-1 in the first set.
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“It’s never easy to finish a match like this and I hope it’s nothing really serious,” said Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina, who will next take on Ons Jabeur in a tantalising rematch of last year’s final.
“It was really unlucky for Beatriz and I hope she gets better,” added Rybakina.
SOURCE: REUTERS
