Djokovic resists Fearnley test, reaches Round 3

Novak Djokovic was not at his best on Thursday at Wimbledon, but he found a way to reach the third round after three hours of gruelling play. The Serbian overcame a free-hitting display from resilient British wild card Jacob Fearnley to earn a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win.

In front of a capacity crowd on Centre Court - which was cheering loudly for Brit Fearnley - Djokovic was on course for a straight-sets win when he broke the 22-year-old's serve mid-way through the third set. However, Fearnley roared back to to win the set, overpowering the second seed to gain a foothold.

With the pressure rising, Djokovic responded in the fourth set, increasing his intensity and gaining the crucial break in the 11th game to triumph in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

"It was a great effort from Jacob, he played great," Djokovic said. "I had not had a chance to see him play before until two days ago. There is always an element of surprise and nothing to lose. Playing him at Wimbledon was always going to be tough. Most of the British players grow up being exposed to grass courts, quick surfaces, so they know how to play.

"I thought he served very well. It was very difficult to break his serve. He made me work. I was probably a bit lucky in the fourth not to go a break down. I could have won the match in three but this match potentially deserved to go into a fifth, with the way he played in the fourt. But I am very glad it didn't."

Novak SURVIVES 🗣️@DjokerNole made to work 6-3 6-4 5-7 7-5 against Fearnley on Centre Court!@Wimbledon | #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/U4KaNATOoG

— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 4, 2024

The 37-year-old arrived in London last week having undergone knee surgery in June. Djokovic has shown little sign of discomfort through his opening two matches at Wimbledon, where he beat Czech Vit Kopriva for the loss of just five games in the first round.

Djokovic, who has won 15 of the 16 matches he has played against wild cards at majors, holds a 32-1 record against players at their home Slams, with his only defeat coming against Scot Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final in 2013.

"I was not really comfortable in my own skin in the third and fourth sets. Sometimes you have rough days where you are maybe not feeling your best," Djokovic added. "Of course it depends on your opponents across the net. Today Jacob played at a high level and he made me earn this victory."

The 24-time major champion is chasing his eighth Wimbledon title and will next face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Australian Alexei Popyrin. Djokovic defeated Popyrin at the Australian Open earlier this year.

The 22-year-old Fearnley, who studied at Texas Christian University, was competing in his first major. The Briton arrived at Wimbledon high in confidence after winning his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title on grass in Nottingham last month. Fearnley is up 55 spots to No. 222 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.