Djokovic shows experience in victory over Hurkacz to advance to Wimbledon quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic’s experience was on display at Wimbledon on Monday. Just like the inexperience of Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.
Djokovic, a seven-time All England Club champion seeking his 24th Grand Slam singles title overall, reached the quarterfinals on the court for the 14th time by beating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (6), 7-6 ( 6), 5-7, 6-4 in a game that started on Sunday at Center Court.
Djokovic saved three set points in the first set and then was two points away from losing the second set. The game was then halted due to the late hour. On Monday, Hurkacz finally managed to take a set, using his strong serve to near perfection.
“Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I felt so miserable in returning games…because of his incredibly accurate and powerful serve,” Djokovic said on court. “He has one of the best services in the world and it’s so hard to read that.”
Hurkacz had held onto his serve for all 67 matches at Wimbledon this year until the fourth set, when Djokovic broke it to lead 4–3. Before that, the 17th-placed Pole had saved all 18 break points he faced.
Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 56th time in his career, second only to Roger Federer’s men’s record of 58. He will next face Andrey Rublev for a spot in the semifinals.
Andreava concedes big lead vs. keys
Andreeva, a Russian qualifier who is only 16 years old, showed her maturity during the first week of the Wimbledon tournament, but things went wrong on Monday. The teen had won all of her six games on grass to reach the All England Club fourth round, but she slipped a wide lead over 25th-seeded Madison Keys in a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6 – 2 losses on track No. 2.
In the last game, Andreeva slipped while going for a ball and the racket flew out of her hand again.
Engzell tied the Russian up for a second racket thrown, giving Keys a match point. Andreeva debated the call and pleaded her case.
“I didn’t throw the racket. I fell,” Andreeva told Engzell. “I slipped and then I fell.”
Mirra Andreeva was penalized giving Keys a match point
She begged the referee that she fell & slipped.
When she looked at this, she clearly lost her footing.
She let go of the racket, but I think the referee could have let it slide
Sad ending.
pic.twitter.com/CZv5M0nlXW
However, the call stood and Keys went on to complete the match to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.
“When you come out here you know she’s a really great player. But you don’t want to be the player who loses to her to get her first quarter,” Keys said on court. “I’ve fallen short a few times and it’s great to be in the quarter-finals again here at Wimbledon.”
Keys has reached the semifinals at the other three Grand Slam tournaments, including a run to the final at the 2017 US Open, but her only other quarterfinal appearance at the All England Club ended at the time.
Keys next plays against Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated No. 21 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-0. Second-seeded Sabalenka won the Australian Open this year and has a record of 16-1 in major tournaments in 2023.
Defending champion Elena Rybakina also reached the quarterfinals. She advanced as Beatriz Haddad Maia pulled out of their match with a lower back injury and Rybakina led 4–1.
Also in the men’s tournament, Chris Eubanks reached the quarterfinals in his first Wimbledon appearance, defeating fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 3–6, 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4, 6–4. He then takes on third-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who advanced as Jiri Lehecka retired from their game with the Russian leading 6-4, 6-2.
Later on Monday, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will play 2022 finalist Ons Jabeur and top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz will face 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini.
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The Canadian struggled after taking the opening set and appeared to be limping the entire game.
