Djokovic – Hurkacz Suspended At Wimbledon, Rublev Wins in 5; Alcaraz v Berrettini

The match of the day in the men’s draw didn’t get finish as Novak Djokovic leads Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(6), 7-6(6) in their fourth round Wimbledon encounter.

Hurkacz led 6-3 in the first set breaker but failed to close it out as Djokovic once again proved too tough.

The second set was nearly a replay. Djokovic would get and miss break chances but in the breaker he again came from a mini-break down. After the second, the match was stopped just past 10:30am with the 11:00pm curfew approaching.

The two will resume Monday afternoon with the winner returning Tuesday to face Andrey Rublev.

The Russian got revenge on Alexander Bublik for a Halle final loss. Rublev was cruising up two sets but in the third set breaker, a couple of loose shots gave Bublik life. Saving two match points on his serve at 4-5, Bublik would take the fourth set breaker as well.

Rublev would finally get back on top for good, breaking his buddy and going on to his first Wimbledon quarterfinal 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(6-8), 6-7(5-7), 6-4. He ended the match with an incredible lunge forehand slice winning and followed with an ace.

“Every set I had chances, I had opportunities,” said Rublev. “One match point he served full power 135 mph and second match point he served big again. I thought just keep playing and I will have one more chance at least, so don’t explode before the match is over.”

No. 8 Jannik Sinner toppled Daniel Elahi Galan in three sets 7-6(7-4), 6-4, 6-3 to return to the quarterfinals. He’ll continue his dream draw against world No. 94 Roman Safiuillen. The 25-year-old took advantage of a Denis Shapovalov left injury to beat the Canadian 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

“Today was a very tough day,” Sinner said. “I wasn’t feeling so great on the court but still I tried to fight for every ball and knowing him, he is a very good server and he hits the forehand very, very well so I tried to somehow win the most important points.

“For sure Roman Safiullin is a very tough challenge. Every player who gets to the quarter-finals deserves to be there. I will try to play my best.

“I played him in the ATP Cup a couple of years ago and it was a very tough match. He hits the ball very hard. But let’s see. That’s the problem for the day after tomorrow.”

In the resumption of the Grigor Dimitrov-Frances Tiafoe match, Dimitrov took the third winning all five games today to advance 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

Tomorrow’s ticket boasts No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz testing Matteo Berrettini. Alcaraz has won two of three tour-level meetings against Berrettini winning recently in Rio last year.

No. 3 Daniil Medvedev takes on Jiri Lehecka in a first-time tour-level contest. No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on big-serving American Christopher Eubanks and also No. 6 Holger Rune will challenge Dimitrov.

MONDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:30PM
Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) [13] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [3]
Not Before: 2:30pm
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2] leads Hubert Hurkacz (POL) [17] To Finish 7-6(6) 7-6(6)
Ons Jabeur (TUN) [6] v Petra Kvitova (CZE) [9]
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [1] v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
Daniil Medvedev [3] v Jiri Lehecka (CZE)
Ekaterina Alexandrova [21] v Aryna Sabalenka [2]
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [21] v Holger Rune (DEN) [6]

NO.2 COURT – 11:00AM
Madison Keys (USA) [25] v Mirra Andreeva
Christopher Eubanks (USA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [5]