Djokovic Survives Tumble At Wimbledon While Murray Cruises; Federer, Nadal Return Saturday
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Novak Djokovic survived one of his scariest spills Friday at Wimbledon. Ahead and in control of his third round match against Gilles Simon at 3-2 in the third, Djokovic stumbled to the turf falling on his left shoulder. For a minute or so the Serb was on the ground in visible agony, clutching at his left shoulder.
Watching, I thought his tournament was over – dislocated shoulder, torn ligaments? But after a few minutes of medical attention Djokovic was back to health, back to his quest for a first Slam in 18 months and he proceeded to polish off Simon 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to return to the fourth round.
“It was a sharp pain when I fell, an awkward fall,” Djokovic told BBC television. “I was just hoping there is nothing going on with the joint, luckily there is no damage and I could play.
“The muscle was quite sore with the impact but I am just glad to get through. Now there are two days off and I am going to try and recover.
“I played well though I dropped a couple of service games. It could have gone either way in the third but in the important moments I came up with the right selection of shots.”
While Djokovic dismissed the injury, who knows how in a few days he and his shoulder will feel. And things won’t get easier. Next for Novak is JW Tsonga. The Frenchman dusted qualifier Jimmy Wang 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 but Novak’s won their last 10.
“It’s obvious as the tournament progresses you are going to face some higher ranked players – like Tsonga – who has been a regular in the second week,” said Djokovic. “He’s a great grass-court player, he loves the energy of the big stadium and it is going to be a big challenge for both of us.”
Anxious moments weren’t limited to just Center today as a quartet of 5-setters also were contested. In a match completed from yesterday 2013 semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz fended off a furious comeback to turn away 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in five sets to make the third round.
Showing further signs of progress and fitness, Grigor Dimitrov advanced in five over Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-7, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. The Dog, who cracked 42 aces in his prior match, had break points early in the fourth to put the Bulgarian away simply wore down in the end.
“I just felt physically very strong and I knew that the longer the match went the better chance I had of winning it,” Dimitrov said. “Today I felt inspired even though I had a few downs. I am proving myself not only as a player, but also as a person outside the court. I want to create my own legend, my own trademark.”
Santigo Giraldo also closed out Marcel Granollers and Kevin Anderson came back to beat Mr. Drama Fabio Fognini.
Andy Murray was on late in the day and continued to pulverize all in his path. The Scot blasted Den Bosch Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
“He (Roberto) has won a lot of matches lately, winning on grass last week in Holland,” said Murray. “He has made a lot of improvements and fights very hard. I hung in some of the games, so I am happy to get it done in straight sets. It was a step up and I think I can do some things a little better.”
Of anyone thus far (man or woman), Murray’s been the most impressive. And Murray’s won nine straight and 15 of his last 16 at Wimbledon. He’s showing zero signs of slowing down.
And in the final match Tomas Berdych ended the night in darkness (literally) becoming the highest men’s seed to fall as the No. 6 was bounced in a mild upset by Marin Cilic in straight sets.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer return. Neither should have much of a fuss. Nadal faces Mikhail Kukushkin while Federer takes on Santiago Giraldo.
Nadal got very lucky against Lukas Rosol who had him dead to rights once again until he flinched after securing that break in the second. I now expect Nadal to tighten his game up and start making a push to the semis which now looks inevitable.
And nothing thus far has suggested that Federer won’t join Nadal in that semi.
Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori should also get through but the John Isner-Feliciano Lopez and Jiri Vesely-Nick Kyrgios should provide the entertainment before the traditional Sunday hiatus.
SATURDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:00PM
1. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) v Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]
2. Alison Riske (USA) v Maria Sharapova (RUS) [5]
3. Santiago Giraldo (COL) v Roger Federer (SUI) [4]
NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
1. Serena Williams (USA) [1] v Alize Cornet (FRA) [25]
2. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [11] v Sabine Lisicki (GER) [19]
3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [5] v Denis Istomin (UZB)
NO.2 COURT – 11:30AM
1. Milos Raonic (CAN) [8] v Lukasz Kubot (POL)
2. Simona Halep (ROU) [3] v Belinda Bencic (SUI)
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