Djokovic’s Incredible Run of Success is Halted by Querrey Murray Sails Into Fourth Round

In one of the biggest upsets in tennis history, world no.1 Novak Djokovic made a third-round exit at Wimbledon 2016. The defending champion and world no.1 lost to USA’s Sam Querrey in four sets in a match that was interrupted several times because of rain. Djokovic’s loss was a huge shock and the sensational news took center-stage at Wimbledon on Saturday. When the rain-interrupted match resumed, Djokovic began by winning four straight games before the rain returned. The players went out and waited for the third resumption. The Serb had done very well until the rain and looked like turning the match on its head. But when play resumed, he lapsed into errors once more and despite winning the third set, lost the fourth on tiebreak. It was a sad end for the winner of the last four Grand Slams. The Serbian has had an amazing run of successes in the last 18 months and he became hard to beat with his extraordinarily consistent game. But Sam Querrey had obtained a big advantage on Friday and needed to win just one more set. He lost the third but took the fourth on tiebreak to send Djokovic out of contention. The biggest beneficiary of Djokovic’s defeat could be Roger Federer, who was slated to meet the defending champion in the semifinal but now it could be Milos Raonic. Meanwhile 2013 champion Andy Murray also cruised to the third round by defeating Australia’s John Millman. With Djokovic out of the way, Murray also looks a potential Wimbledon winner this year.

The morning began well for Djokovic. He kept winning points on his serve and broke Querrey early to lead 4-0 in the third set. Just when everyone thought about the Serb breaking the American’s defenses, rain interrupted the match yet again. The players went to the locker rooms and when they came back, Djokovic took the next game as well but looked circumspect. He allowed Querrey to score three points before winning the third set. In the fourth, the American’s booming service began to work again. But at 1-1, there was another rain-break. On the next resumption, both players saved break point opportunities before Djokovic converted on his 12th chance and got ready to serve at 5-4. It was here that the reigning champion really surrendered the advantage. He allowed Querrey to break right back and make the score 5-5. The American held his own service to make it 6-5 and the set slipped into tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Djokovic played tentatively and committed errors unbecoming of him. Querrey kept the pressure by serving well. With Querrey’s service finding its mark, he earned his first match point that Djokovic saved with an ace. But a little later, Querrey jumped in air, when the Serb sent a forehand wide on the second match point against him. It was all over for the world no.1 as he lost 6-7, 1-6, 3-6, 7-6. The 28-year old Querrey finished the match with 31 aces and 56 winners and for the first time in his tennis career, the American advanced to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament.

While the Djokovic-exit drama was unfolding in the nearby court no.1, Great Britain’s Andy Murray advanced to the fourth round by defeating Australia’s John Millman in three sets. His Australian opponent didn’t have much to offer against the consistent Murray, who won the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. The match was of full of long rallies but Murray prevailed in the end. In another rain-affected match, Australian Open champion Germany’s Angelique Kerber entered the fourth round by defeating compatriot Carina Witthoeft 7-6, 6-1. Other seeded men and women players advancing on Saturday were; Milos Raonic,  Simona Halep, Madison Keys, Kei Nishikori, David Goffin and Agnieszka Radwanska.