Novak Djokovic vs Arthur Rinderknech LIVE!
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic safely progressed into the fourth round but only after he narrowly avoided being served a bagel during a hard-fought win over 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech.
Djokovic suffered a shock exit in the last 32 of the French Open last month and while he prevented a repeat at the All England Club on Friday afternoon, a 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6 (4) victory only told half the story for the 24-time grand slam singles winner. Frenchman Rinderknech had been two points away from dishing out the 13th 6-0 score of Djokovic’s career during an extraordinary 18-minute third set on Centre Court, but the 39-year-old avoided that unwanted feat and regrouped in set four to go through.
Seventh seed Djokovic would have expected to face his Roland Garros conqueror and highly rated 19-year-old Joao Fonseca next, but he was outfoxed by Roman Safiullin earlier in the day. This was Djokovic’s 105th singles win at Wimbledon, which brought him level with Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic vs Arthur Rinderknech latest updates
GAME, SET, MATCH! Djokovic wins in four setsLive updates
Game, set and match! Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 7-6(4) Rinderknech
And there’s the mini-break!
Rinderknech is overzealous on the forehand up the line, misses it, and here’s match point!
And what a way to do it, with the dive-volley winner!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (5-4) Rinderknech*
Rinderknech spanks an ace down the middle, and it’s 4-3 after the changeover.
Djokovic responds with an unreturnable serve of his own, and it’s 4-4.
He slams another down the T, and it’s 5-4!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (3-3) Rinderknech*
No! A real chance for Djokovic to claim the mini-break, but he misses with the cross-court backhand! He had him right where he wanted him!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (3-2) Rinderknech*
A wide ace of his own for Djokovic, and it’s two apiece, and Rinderknech nets the forehand, as he looks to step in and get aggressive.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 (1-2) Rinderknech
Rinderknech nets his backhand return off the second serve. A good start for Djokovic.
The Frenchman responds with a blistering ace into the corner, and, at the third time of asking, he puts away the smash.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-6 Rinderknech
Right. Again, he is one game away.
Rinderknech, ball in hand, says not today with an ace for 15-0.
The backhand return from Djokovic is long, too, and it’s 30-0 in double-quick time.
He attacks the net, and shows a strong wrist and excellent racquet control to glance the volley winner over for three game points.
He holds, and we’re into the tiebreak. It was always going to happen.
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 6-5 Rinderknech*
The luck is really smiling down on Rinderknech as his backhand clips the net and dribbles over for 0-15.
But this time, it’s Djokovic’s turn to thank the heavens as he sends a kiss to the sky, with his own backhand grazing the net cord on its way over. 15-15.
Djokovic goes for the dropshot once more after a gruelling baseline exchange, but he nets it! The crowd chant his name, rallying behind him. 15-30.
And that’s better, as he executes the dropshot to perfection for 30-30.
A big serve down the T from the 39-year-old, and it’s game point.
He holds, as a Rinderknech forehand on the run goes long.
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 5-5 Rinderknech
Rinderknech serving to stay in it here.
Djokovic tries the delicate dropshot, but there’s just not enough on it in a good start for the Frenchman when he needs it.
Djokovic is alive to the serve and volley and manages to get back not one but two of his smashes, but he just misses with a big inside-out forehand as he looks to get back into the game. 30-0.
The 25th seed gets ran ragged by the world No8 once more, but he proves his worth as he bests him, spooning over the half-volley winner.
He holds with ease!
Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 5-4 Rinderknech*
A big ace wide from Djokovic gives him the perfect start to the ninth game, but he misses the target as he tries to wrongfoot Rinderknech. 15-15.
An ace down the middle is much better, and that is some expert court coverage from the main man as Rinderknech looks to move him about. The Frenchman goes for the lob... but it’s just long! 40-15.
Djokovic nets his follow-up forehand for 40-30, and the pressure is still on.
The kick serve bails him out, however, and he is one game away!
*Djokovic 7-5 6-4 1-6 4-4 Rinderknech
Really good from Djokovic as Centre Court begins to chant his name. They want him to turn it up a notch.
He’s trying his best to, but he can’t when Rinderknech has luck like that! A sliced forehand dropshot just kisses the tape on its way over!
That is more like it from the seven-time champion. He steps inside the baseline, and zips an inside-out forehand for a winner for 15-30. A real chance here.
But Rinderknech keeps him out, with the serve and volley levelling the scores.
A thumping ace down the T ekes him ahead once more, and after a thrilling rally, Djokovic puts the backhand long!
Centre Court is on its feet!
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