Wimbledon 2023: Novak Djokovic resumes fourth-round clash with Hubert Hurcox on Monday

Novak Djokovic and Hubert Hurcox resume their fourth-round clash at Wimbledon on Monday, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion needing just one set to advance.

The Pole’s huge serve made life uncomfortable for Djokovic and set up two tiebreakers, but the quality of the second seed shone through in both cases.

Djokovic will be confident of setting up a tie with Andrei Rublev, who beat Alexander Publiv in a thriller, in the last eight.

Hurcox showed no signs of nerves as Djokovic responded with two stylish aces and a drop shot in the opening game.

Both players progressed quickly through their service games, delivering powerful shots and refusing to engage in extended rallies. However, Hurcox had to come back from a 0-30 deficit to secure the game in the ninth.

So, it was no surprise that the opening set was decided by a tiebreak. However, Hurcox earned a mini-break and three set points – all of which he was unable to convert. Nerves began to show as Hurcox netted a forehand and backhand, followed by a long return that eventually allowed Djokovic to secure the first set at 8-6.

Regular service began in the second set. Djokovic earned a break point in the fifth game but couldn’t quite break Hurcox.

In the eighth game, Hurcox managed a rare point on his opponent’s serve, but Djokovic responded in typical fashion with a brilliant backhand and a big serve.

With a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, the tension was palpable. However, amid the intensity, the two players shared a moment of lightheartedness. They hugged and laughed as Djokovic hit the drumlines and stumbled into the net, missing another chance to break. Hurcox returned to business with an ace.

Hurcox hit his 21st and 22nd aces to push the match into another tiebreaker, where Djokovic went down in the first mini-breaker.

The momentum swung again as Hurcox responded with a well-executed slide backhand to tie it at 3-3 before going down another point at 5-4. However once again the Pole missed the chance on serve, losing the next point before Djokovic came up with a point of his own.

The crowd was brought to their feet when Hurcox won an impressive rally, but the Serb was not to be denied as he closed out the tiebreak at 8-6 at 10:35 p.m.

With just 25 minutes left for the curfew to come into force, the decision was made to call off the game.

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