Despite nursing a dodgy right knee, Novak Djokovic overcame Britain’s 277th-ranked Jacob Fearnley in the third round at Wimbledon with a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory on Thursday (July 4). Fearnley, who recently climbed nearly 250 spots in the rankings after winning a Challenger event in Nottingham, made his Centre Court debut memorable.
Meanwhile, fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula was ousted by China’s Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-1 on American Independence Day. Wang, ranked 42nd, secured her first win over a top 10 player.
In another match, Polish seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz retired injured at 9-8 in the fourth-set tiebreak against 20-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils, who led 7-6(2), 6-4, 2-6, 6-6.
The day also marked an emotional moment for British tennis as Andy Murray, playing alongside his brother Jamie, received a poignant farewell after their first-round doubles loss to Australian duo Rinky Hijikata and John Peers. Despite recent surgery to remove a spinal cyst, Murray showcased his competitive spirit on Centre Court. The crowd, including his family, feared an abrupt end when he clutched his back but were treated to flashes of his former brilliance.
Murray, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, is still scheduled to play mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu. The occasion was marked by tributes from tennis legends and a montage of his career highlights, celebrating the former world number one’s contributions to the sport.
Source: Reuters