On Monday, Novak Djokovic broke through Hubert Hurkacz‘s previously formidable defenses to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 14th time.
Defending champion Djokovic won 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4 to claim his eighth title and 24th Grand Slam.
Djokovic broke for a decisive 4-3 lead in the fourth set, halting Hurkacz’s faultless record of 67 service games at the tournament this year.
Djokovic’s 90th win came in his 100th match of the event.
He also had a 32-match winning streak at the All England Club, and his 56th Grand Slam quarter-final appearance is second only to Roger Federer’s 58.
“Big credit for Hubert for playing an amazing match. He put up a great performance,” said 36-year-old Djokovic.
“Honestly, I don’t recall the last time I felt this miserable on returning games. He has one of the best serves in the world and it’s difficult to read it on one of the quickest surfaces in the sport. It was not enjoyable for me.”
Djokovic will face Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic will play on Centre Court, where he has not lost since 2013.
“I feel a great connection with this court. Every match that I win, every time I step on the court, I feel more confident to play the match and hopefully the love affair continues for a long time,” he said.
Djokovic was two sets ahead when the match was called off due to a local curfew.
He’d blown five break points in those matches, and Hurkacz made him pay by breaking in the 12th game of the third set on Monday.
Despite his 33 aces and 64 winners, Djokovic broke for 4-3 in the fourth set and there was no way back for the 17th-seeded Pole.
Djokovic will enter Tuesday’s quarter-final with a 3-1 lifetime lead over seventh-ranked Rublev.
At the same stage of this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic won in straight sets.
“He’s a different player to Hurkacz for sure,” said the Serb.
“Very powerful, very quick ground strokes, loves to dictate. I’m not going to talk to much about tactics — I will to keep that to myself.”
