Novak Djokovic celebrates 100th Wimbledon appearance with quarter-final berth
Hubert Hurkacz is not just anyone. The 26-year-old Pole, ranked 18th in the world, has already won tennis titles on grass, in Halle 2022, and will always be able to say that he was Roger Federer‘s last tormentor in the tennis cathedral.
He knocked him out of the quarter-finals of the 2021 edition.
Hurkacz, despite offering his best version in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, could not do anything to stop Novak Djokovic who seems intent on matching the eight titles of Federer at Wimbledon.
The Serb closed a favorable score of 7-6(6), 7-6(6), 6-7(5) and 6-4, in 3 hours and 7 minutes.
At 36 years of age, he seems to be in his prime, having just won the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year.
Hubert, however, showed that Novak is human and that he can be hurt with an aggressive approach and a super serve. Up to 33 aces were scored by the player from Wroclaw.
In the continuation of a match that began on Sunday and did not conclude because of late-night time limits in the local area surrounding the All-England Club.
Djokovic was again better in the details and reaches the quarter-finals with just a single set conceded.
It could have been two if Hurkacz had taken one of the three balls in the first tie break of the match, with a score of 6-3.
Only Federer (18) and Jimmy Connors (14) had reached the last eight so many times in the tournament. Hurkacz‘s match was not just another match for the 22-time major champion.
It was his 100th in the tournament, a figure that had only been reached by two chosen ones, the aforementioned Federer (119) and Connors (102).
Only Roger was in the quarter-final of a ‘Grand Slam’: 58 to 56. On the horizon awaits Andrey Rublev.
Most matches played at Wimbledon
- Roger Federer 119
- Martina Navratilova 119
- Serena williams 112
- Chris Evert 111
- Billie Jean King 110
- Venus Williams 109
- Jimmy Connors 102
- Novak Djokovic 100
