Novak Djokovic grinds out win: Hurkacz exits with knee injury

Novak Djokovic grinds out win: Hurkacz exits with knee injury. Although he’s “very glad it didn’t,” Novak Djokovic stated he wouldn’t have been shocked if his Wimbledon second-round match against Jacob Fearnley had gone to a fifth set.

In another test of his fitness after recent knee surgery, the seven-time All England Club champion defeated his 22-year-old Scottish opponent 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 on Center Court on Thursday.

Is it possible for me to move and play better? In a court interview, Djokovic responded, “Yes, without a doubt.” I’m hoping that as the competition goes on, I’ll start to feel a little better with each passing day or match.

The crowd cheered loudly when Fearnley, a wild-card player who just concluded his undergraduate career at TCU, won the third set.

He provided excellent service. It was quite challenging to break his serve. He definitely made me work, Djokovic remarked.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion claimed that he was not really at ease in his own skin, especially in the third and fourth sets, and believed he should have won the match in straight sets.

It depends on the opponent on the other side of the net, he continued, but sometimes you have bad days when you may not be feeling your best. I had to win this triumph from him.

Hubert Hurkacz, ranked seventh, was the third player in the top eight men’s draw to withdraw early due to a knee injury sustained during his second-round match against Arthur Fils.

Hurkacz, who had a sluggish start, was headed to a two-set lead when, in the fourth set tiebreak, he dove for a volley at the net to lead 8–7. After a rough landing, Hurkacz remained on the field to receive treatment for his right knee.

After a long medical pause, Hurkacz hobbled on and shortly after made another frantic dive, though this time his movement was severely limited. He lost the tiebreak 9–8, and at 7–6 (2), 6-4, 2–6, and 6–6, he threw in the towel.

“Beating a friend in a match like this is really difficult,” Fils remarked during his on-court interview. “We were performing incredibly well in the fourth set. He was bouncing all over the place, and we had some terrific points. I sincerely apologize for him and wish him a speedy recovery. My attention is on the upcoming round.

After a disappointing performance in the first two sets, Hurkacz showed glimpses of his best form before leaving the match early along with eighth seed Casper Ruud and sixth seed Andrey Rublev.

Since 2005, when both Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils advanced to the third round of Wimbledon while still teenagers, Fils is the youngest Frenchman to accomplish so. In his tenth match at the tour level on grass, he will next play Roman Safiullin of Russia.

I’ve only been on grass for two years. Sure, I’m playing better than I did the year before, but I still have a long way to go,” Fils remarked.

After defeating three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3) in a match that started on Wednesday, Fils’ 37-year-old compatriot Monfils joined him in the lead.

“It was a battle of experience. For this reason, we still adore the game. All we are is close friends,” stated Monfils. Stan is an inspiration to me. Playing him is always a privilege. I may have won today, but I know that he might win the next one.

No. 9 Alex de Minaur defeated No. 10 Jaume Munar in a convincing 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 victory. Chinese player Shang Juncheng was defeated by Grigor Dimitrov 5-7, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 after he fought back from two sets down.

Ben Shelton, the 14th seed from the United States, and Holger Rune, ranked No. 15, also overcame a set down to progress.

Also Read:-

Leave a Comment