Wimbledon: Djokovic revels in his best tennis of the year after Popyrin win

By Sports Desk July 06, 2024

Novak Djokovic claimed his fourth-set tie-break against Alexei Popyrin was the best he has played this year after defeating the Australian at Wimbledon. 

Djokovic came from a set down to beat Popyrin in four, confirming his place in the last 16 with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3) triumph. He will face Holger Rune next. 

The world number two continued his record of having never lost to Popyrin in what was their third meeting, the previous one coming at the Australian Open earlier this year. 

The Serbian praised Popyrin for his valiant effort, going on to admit the tie-break in the fourth saw him produce his highest level this year.

"It was another tough match. I didn’t expect anything less than what we experienced on the court today from Alexei," Djokovic said.  

"I knew 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.

"I knew he was in form and he was going to come out believing he could win. He was the better player in the first set.

"I think I played a good second and third and the fourth was anybody’s game. He was serving very well. It was very difficult to read his serve.

"It was just a very challenging match, mentally as well, to hang in there. I'm not allowed to have big concentration lapses.

"I think I’ve done well in that regard in one of the best tie-breaks I’ve played this year, that’s for sure."

Data Debrief: Resilient Djokovic shows his class

While Djokovic was far from vintage in the first set, he showed the kind of resilience that we've seen throughout his career. 

Djokovic became only the third player in the Open Era to achieve 50 Grand Slam match wins after turning 35, along with Ken Rosewall (64) and Roger Federer (62).

Related items

  • ATP Finals: In-form Zverev edges Rublev to kickstart hat-trick hunt ATP Finals: In-form Zverev edges Rublev to kickstart hat-trick hunt

    Alexander Zverev insisted improvements needed to be made despite kickstarting his ATP Finals campaign with a straight-set triumph over Andrey Rublev on Monday. 

    Zverev, who is going in search of a third crown at the year-end tournament, emerged a 6-4 6-4 victor in 72 minutes in Turin to claim a Tour-leading 67th win of 2024. 

    Rublev, however, got off to a blistering start to the encounter, winning each of his 13 points on serve, only for a lapse in the seventh game that allowed Zverev to take the opening set.

    Zverev continued to trade blows with his opponent, but he claimed the decisive break point in the ninth game to maintain his dominant record in opening round-robin matches at the event (6-1). 

    "I'm looking forward to the next few matches, and hopefully I can improve on a few more things because I don't think this match was perfect to be honest," Zverev said.

    "I still think there's a few more things that can be better. I missed a few balls from the baseline and I feel I wasn't as sharp movement-wise as I would like to be."

    Zverev joined Casper Ruud at the top of the John Newcombe Group after he had beaten Carlos Alcaraz earlier on Monday, with the Norwegian up next for the world number two.

    Data Debrief: Alexander the Great

    After winning the ATP Finals in 2018 and 2021, Zverev's performance against the big-hitting Rublev was a sign of his intentions to complete a hat-trick of victories at the year-end tournament. 

    The German struck 22 winners compared to his opponents' 10, along with converting both break points he was presented with. 

    Excluding the Laver Cup, Zverev also claimed the 50th ATP top 10 win of his career, becoming the first player born since 1990 to achieve the feat.

  • ATP Finals: Alcaraz 'didn't feel completely well' in shock Ruud defeat ATP Finals: Alcaraz 'didn't feel completely well' in shock Ruud defeat

    Carlos Alcaraz revealed that he struggled with illness during his opening game loss at the ATP Finals to Casper Ruud on Monday. 

    Alcaraz looked out of sorts as he fell to a 1-6 5-7 defeat to Ruud in just 86 minutes in Turin, and now faces an uphill struggle if he is to progress from the John Newcombe Group.

    During the contest, the Spaniard hit 26 unforced errors compared to his opponents' 10, while also failing to save any of the four break points he faced. 

    It also marked Alcaraz's first loss against Ruud in their fifth match against each other, with the 21-year-old confirming he had felt unwell leading up to the tournament. 

    “I don’t like talking about things like this because it sounds like an excuse and I don’t want to take anything away from what Casper did to win the match,” began Alcaraz.

    “Before coming here, I was unwell at home. When I got to Turin, practice was going well; I could handle long rallies, competing and playing.

    "And I hoped things would get better as the days went by.

    "I don’t know if it was because of the nerves of the first match, but I didn’t feel completely well. My stomach limited my game a lot and made me feel uncomfortable.

    "I could’ve done better. I’m not going to feel good in every match I play throughout the year, but it really limited me in terms of my recovery.”

    Alcaraz will be back on court on Wednesday, when he takes on the loser of Monday's clash between Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev.

    Failing to win would see the four-time grand slam champion fall short once again at the year-end tournament, but he was confident of claiming a maiden ATP Finals crown. 

    “I don’t want to think much beyond today... Given how I’ve felt, it’s difficult to think about the semis,” said Alcaraz.

    “The good thing in this sport is that your game can feel very bad one day and very good the next.

    "There have been many players who have lost the first match of the [Nitto] ATP Finals and ended up winning. I reached the semis last year after losing on the first day.

    "Now I want to take it day by day, to feel better, and see how the next match is. I’ll approach it as best I can. Let’s hope things turn out well.”

  • ATP Finals: Ruud stuns Alcaraz to claim 50th Tour-level win of the season ATP Finals: Ruud stuns Alcaraz to claim 50th Tour-level win of the season

    Casper Ruud believes his 50th Tour-level victory of 2024 was one of his best after he upset third seed Carlos Alcaraz in his opening match of the ATP Finals on Monday. 

    Ruud, who had registered just two wins since the US Open, sealed a 6-1 7-5 win in just 86 minutes against Alcaraz for his maiden Top 3 triumph on hard courts. 

    The Norwegian reeled off five consecutive games from 1-1 to claim the first set at a canter but had to battle from the brink to secure a straight-set victory in Turin. 

    Alcaraz had raced into a 5-2 lead in the second set but was unable to hold on, with Ruud roaring back to sit top of the early standings in the John Newcombe Group. 

    "It's only one match, but it's one of the best wins of the season in terms of who I am playing and his ranking," Ruud said.

    "I feel really happy, of course. I think we have seen Carlos play better tennis, but I took care of my chances. 

    "I haven't been boosting with confidence in the last few months so it was a great win for me and I would like to get some more wins in Turin.

    "I got a good start, I got a break early and in the second set I managed to turn it around with some good tennis at the end."

    Ruud will next seek to earn a second win on Wednesday when he will face either Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev, who play later on Monday. 

    Data Debrief: Ruud awakening

    Although Alcaraz appeared below his physical best during Monday's encounter, Ruud took full advantage to continue his impressive streak against the very best in the world. 

    The Norwegian's latest win saw his record against players in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings improve to 5-2, and he was a worthy winner in Turin. 

    Ruud converted all four of the break points he was presented with, ending the contest with 10 unforced errors compared to Alcaraz's 26. 

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.